top of page

BOTSWANA’S

ELEPHANT ECONOMY

Afrika-botswana-green.gif

RUSSEL WASSERFALL

An unusual approach to wildlife management is benefitting both humans and elephants in Botswana. The country is home to the largest population of elephants in Africa, with an estimated 130,000 individuals roaming its landscape. Clearly the nation’s conservation efforts have worked, but this presents a fresh challenge.

Elephant-Economy-01.png

With a population of over 130,000 elephants, Botswana’s conservation authorities have found ways to manage conflicts between subsistence farmers and the grey giants that raid or destroy their crops.

Human-elephant conflict and habitat degradation have become a concern. As human populations expand subsistence farmers plant crops that are very tempting to the grey giants. Raids on crops have caused farmers to threaten elephant lives and some villagers have been hurt or trampled in encounters.

 

Ecoexist a non-profit organization based in Botswana has created the ‘Elephant Economy’ to encourage sustainable coexistence between people and elephants. They facilitate private-sector support for community-based tourism and other economic opportunities that allow people benefit from living with elephants. This includes encouraging "elephant-aware" farming practices and enterprise development around elephants.

 

The goal is to create economic incentives for local communities to coexist with elephants. Support is given in the form of training, business planning and marketing to create groups such as ‘Yikote Elephants’. This collective of 70 women from Xaxao Village in the south-western part of the Okavango Delta produces high quality elephant-patterned baskets sought after by tourists and international galleries.

Elephant-Economy-02.png
Elephant-Economy-03.png
Elephant-Economy-04.png

Yikote Elephants is a project based in the Okavango village of XaXao. Here as many as 70 local nwomen produce elephant-themed craft items for sale.

Elephant-Economy-06.png

Further west, Diyoveya Honey collects, packages and sells organic honey from hives used as elephant deterrents by subsistence farmers in the Delta. The bee ‘fences’ are part of Ecoexist’s broader conflict management programme developing innovative techniques to keep elephants from raiding human crops. Chilli ‘bombs’ are another solution where chillis are used to keep elephants away and the farmers can sell their excess crop of hot stuff to local restaurants and condiment producers.

Ecoexist trains small farmer in the use of non-lethal deterrents and strategies to keep elephants from raiding their crops. Bee-hive fences and the cultivation of chillis for dried ‘chilli-bombs’ are some of these.

Elephant-Economy-08.png
Elephant-Economy-07.png
Elephant-Economy-11.png

Ecoexist is also working with the Botswana government and local communities to secure land use plans that provide space for both people and elephants. This involves mapping elephant movement corridors to come up with land use plans that address competition for resources. Raising awareness and educating communities about coexistence is also key to their strategy.

 

Visitors can connect with Botswana’s Elephant Economy by booking that elephant tour, buying the organic honey, taking home a gorgeous basket. All these activities benefit the lives of local people and ensure the continued survival of the region’s wild elephants.

Elephant-Economy-10.png

Members of the Ecoexist team who work on mitigating Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC), particularly with regard to elephants in the vast open spaces of Botswana.

Elephant-Economy-05.png

With support from Ecoexist, training in marketing is provided to projects like Yikote, allowing them to participate not only in local tourism, but also in a global craft economy

A company of local poets and storytellers tours rural Botswana educating villagers about living with elephants through plays and role-play.

Les de andre artiklene fra Botswana her:https://www.matogdrikke.no/botswanaintro

bottom of page