26 Feb 2014

Some participants who attended the two-day conservation workshop have called on the government to re-visit the issue of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) as its complicity delays development implementation.

They said the EIA process was expensive and many ordinary Batswana were failing to comply hence resorting to illegal practices. EIA is an assessment of the possible impacts that a proposed project might have on the environment, looking at environmental, social and economic aspects.

Participants said the process delayed investors to start projects which could create employment for the locals, requesting that the process should be made easier to comply to attract more investors. They said many people had project ideas but EIA remained a stumbling block for them to kick start.

Tati Land Board member, Mr Tebogo Alfred said EIA was a paramount requirement before a project could be undertaken, noting that the charges were high. He said for the sake of the environment, it would be wise for the government to review the charges.

Some conservation board members from north east district said since ordinary citizens could not afford charges associated with EIA, it would be wise to encourage the communities to form trusts with a view to sustainably use available resources.

They said people running big businesses benefitted more at the expense of the locals, adding that the natural resources should benefit the communities around them.

Responding to the comments, Mr Philip Sandawana from department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), noted that the government was aware of challenges of EIA exercise.

He appreciated that the process was not serving its purpose and indeed a stumbling block to development.

He said there were some improvements made last year as a consultancy association called Botswana Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association (BEAPA) was formed with a view to regulate how environmental practitioners operated. 

It was established through Section 20 of the Environmental Assessment Act, No10 of 2011.

The purpose of the Association is to register and certify the Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs) and to promote the sustainable management of the environment through the realisation of quality environmental assessment in Botswana.

Some of the functions of BEAPA are to register qualified persons as Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs); establish and maintain a register of individuals who are qualified to operate as EAPs; Certify practitioners according to the certification criteria and promote on-going professional development.

Mr Sandawana said some Batswana were still being reaped off their hard earned cash because they were not aware of the establishment of BEAPA.

However, he informed participants that DEA played an important role on natural resource conservation adding that their main objectives were to implement the Environmental Assessment Act and coordinate and implement multi-lateral environmental agreement. ENDS