Protected areas in Botswana have been divided into two systems, which are protected areas in the northern part of the country, where environmental conditions are slightly wetter than the southern system, where environmental conditions are typical semi-arid conditions. These systems were separated by veterinary disease control fences that cut off historic wildlife migration routes. Infrastructure development between protected areas has also increased the difficulty of easily moving wildlife between protected areas, significantly reducing connectivity between protected areas. Given the recent decline in wildlife populations in northern Canada, where a number of floodplain species have declined, there is a need to improve connectivity between protected areas and secure some critical areas that can serve as refuges during periods when conditions are not favourable. “environmental management plan” means a baseline environmental assessment that excludes the preparation of a scoping report, but may include the requirement for a public review; Excerpt from www.bw.undp.org/content/botswana/en/home/ourwork/environmentandenergy/successstories/botswana ambitious climate change plan .html[16] “Director” means the Director responsible for environmental affairs; The Millennium Development Goals, adopted at the Millennium Summit in 2000, emphasize the need to lift all people out of abject poverty (United Nations, 2000). Of the estimated 207 million people in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, an estimated 70 per cent live below the international poverty line of $2 a day (SADC, 2003). The situation is aggravated by the high population growth, estimated at 2.4 per cent per year (SADC, 2004); the high rate of HIV/AIDS infection, estimated at more than 20 per cent of the adult population (SADC, 2003); low agricultural production; and the increasing frequency of climate extremes. Poverty has forced most communities to resort to unsustainable use of forest resources, which many consider freely available. In doing so, they destroy the environment on which their existence depends, hence the vicious circle of poverty. Over the past two decades, SADC has recognized the role of forestry in poverty reduction, food security and environmental protection.

The elaboration of the SADC Protocol on Forests is an important step in achieving the socio-economic development objectives of the region. (b) have specific qualifications in environmental science and management. Reflections on climate change in Botswana are endorsed by the National Committee on Climate Change, and representatives from government ministries and departments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector meet regularly to discuss climate change issues and potential impacts in various sectors. Although there is no specific policy to address climate change in Botswana, the potential for future climate change and associated environmental threats are recognized in the National Development Plan. Climate change issues are addressed in a combination of different policy areas focused on sustainable growth. In some sectors, there are already specific climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, such as: significant government support for solar energy technologies in the energy sector.