Maun – Botswana’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism took its Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) Act of 2025 on the road this week, holding a consultative meeting in Maun where the law was unpacked for key players in the country’s conservation sector.
The Director of CBNRM, Mr. Kealeboga Kemoreile, led the session, walking representatives from the Botswana Wildlife Producers Association (BWPA), the Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (NCONGO) and other stakeholders through the legislation, which came into operation in January 2026.
Kemoreile traced the journey of the law from its development stages to enactment, telling the gathering that it was designed to strengthen governance, accountability and coordination within the community-based natural resources management sector.
He explained the mandate and core functions of the newly established Department under the Act and walked stakeholders through the reforms the law introduces. These include registration and compliance requirements for Community Based Organizations (CBOs), the functions and advisory role of the Technical Advisory Committee, and the composition and oversight responsibilities of the National CBNRM Board, which is appointed by the Minister.
The governance structures of CBO Boards were also covered, alongside financial accountability measures governing how funds generated or received by CBOs are administered, managed and reported.
Kemoreile also presented draft regulations developed to operationalize the Act and called on those present to offer constructive input to sharpen its implementation framework.
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