Environmental policy and administrative management

Kopong Interim Conservation Society currently operating under Basikwa Boswa Development Association was established to sustainably manage the natural resources around Kopong village for the benefit of both the community and the environment through the promotion of sustainable utilization of the natural resources and the protection against over exploitation. The community seeks a planning grant to initiate the processes of establishing a Community Based Organization (CBO). The funds will be used for the development of the constitution for the establishment which will include all the cost related to the formulation of a Trust that include community consultative meetings and the engagement of a professional consultant to expedite the registration process. This project is community based and its main aim is to manage the natural resources such as sand, gravel, river sand, carving stones, concrete stones fire wood and grass in and around Kopong village for the benefit of the community. The community will like to embark on conservation measures to allow for sustained use of these natural resources. The other activity related to the overall goal of the project is the implementation of control measures against the indiscriminate disposal of waste in and around the village. The project will also entail environment conservation awareness raising amongst community members that would lead to the sustenance of the overall goal of the project. Having an informed community would eventually lead to environmental protection. It is imperative to note at this juncture that this project will not be exclusively for Kopong village since those willing communities arround Kopong will be allowed to partake in the project activities thereby widening the resource base for conservation hence a greater area will be incorporated for conservation initiatives. Best practices elsewhere in the country indicate that the inclusion of other stakeholder such as the private sector and non-governmental organizations are key to the success of projects of this nature.

Botswana