Botswana

Botswana’s diverse ecosystems – including forests and woodlands, aquatic and wetland systems, grasslands and shrublands, agroecosystems, deserts and hill ecosystems – are increasingly under pressure from climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss and growing human demands. These threats compromise the integrity, productivity and resilience of ecosystems that are vital to the country’s sustainable development.

To address these challenges, Botswana undertook its first national ecosystem assessment (NEA), launched in March 2026, to provide a holistic understanding of ecosystem dynamics and strengthen multiple‑evidence-informed decision-making. The NEA is expected to guide evidence-based policies and strategies for biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods and climate resilience while also enhancing community awareness and participation in managing local biodiversity and ecosystem services.

To accelerate the uptake of priority actions identified through the NEA, Botswana is receiving catalytic support through BES-Net II’s BES Solution Fund. This support will advance key actions including:

• disseminating NEA findings
• strengthening the National Biodiversity Platform
• integrating NEA results into the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and sectoral plans
• implementing community-level restoration initiatives
• addressing priority knowledge gaps highlighted in the NEA
• enhancing Botswana’s contribution to IPBES processes

Together, these efforts will ensure that biodiversity and ecosystem services are fully recognized as foundations for sustainable development and human well-being.

Implementing agency: UNDP Botswana

Government partner: Department of Environmental Affairs in the Ministry of Environment and tourism