16 Dec 2024

Re Jala Peo Foundation, in collaboration with Junior Rangers Botswana and StartUp4Kids Botswana, has been hailed for showing commitment in raising awareness towards protection of endangered species and promoting environmental sustainability.

The organisations received accolades during an Environmental Awareness conference in Maun recently. The conference held under the theme: Save our Endangered Species, brought together learners aged between 10 and 18 years old to appreciate messages on conservation and saving endangered species.

In an interview, acting District Wildlife Coordinator, Mr Thebe Horatius praised the organisations for joining forces with government to drive conservation efforts.

Collaboration efforts, he said were key to achieving long-term conservation interventions and noted that the theme was relevant as saving endangered species was critical in the health of the planet’s ecosystem.

Mr Horatius said poaching and poisoning of species such as vultures were disturbing and urged members of the public to desist from such illegal acts. Vultures, he said were threatened and their population had drastically declined. He further said people should understand that Ngamiland economy relied on wildlife based tourism.

“The conference is a welcome development as it instills a sense of responsibility and understanding of ecological system and sharing conservation efforts among the youngsters who are the leaders of tomorrow,” he added.

He also noted that wildlife resources had a lot of economic benefits as they contributed positively to the country’s economic development through job creation and revenue generation.

As such, Mr Horatius pleaded with members of the community to report incidents of poaching saying failure to do so would undermine efforts towards conservation.

Ms Refilwe Baatweng from Cheetah Conservation Botswana said animals become threatened because of habitat loss, introduced species, population growth and over consumption.

She also said the organisation was supporting those living with cheetahs as well as capacitating them to promote co-existence.

The organisation also preserves cheetah population through scientific research and conservation education.

Re Jala Peo programmes supervisor, Ms Thato Tshimologo revealed that through the conference, they aimed to raise awareness on issues of environment sustainability and conservation.

She said they were working with 250 pupils from 14 schools and that they had also adopted Tshidilo Stimulation Centre which assists children born with disabilities.

“We started holding themed  conferences since 2021 and this year we decided to  focus on saving endangered species because we have realised that some species were facing extinction,” she said. 

The conference was also attended by other stakeholders who shared conservation education and interventions promoting sustainable practices and behaviours that minimise negative impacts on the environment. ENDS