Botswana is home to globally important biodiversity and some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife and ecosystems, including the Okavango Delta and the landscapes of Chobe. More than 40% of the country’s land is designated for national parks, game reserves and other forms of wildlife conservation, making nature an important national asset and a foundation for the country’s tourism economy and rural livelihoods.
Despite this strong conservation foundation, Botswana’s biodiversity faces growing pressures from habitat loss and fragmentation, barriers to wildlife movement, human-wildlife conflict, unsustainable resource use, invasive species and climate change. Maintaining the country’s extensive conservation estate requires significant and sustained financing, while dependence on public budgets and tourism revenues creates vulnerabilities and highlights the need to diversify sources of biodiversity finance.
UNDP BIOFIN works with the Government of Botswana and national partners to strengthen the financial sustainability of biodiversity conservation. The programme supports evidence-based planning, improved protected-area financing and the development of finance solutions that can mobilize additional public and private resources while ensuring that biodiversity contributes to sustainable economic development and local livelihoods.
This work is already generating results. Reforms to protected-area fees have helped increase revenues for conservation, demonstrating how better-designed financial mechanisms can unlock additional resources for Botswana’s protected areas while strengthening the connection between biodiversity conservation and the nature-based economy.
BIOFIN Botswana, part of the global UNDP Biodiversity Finance Initiative, has made significant strides in enhancing biodiversity financing and conservation efforts nationwide. Through strategic partnerships, policy reform, and innovative finance solutions, Botswana is setting a benchmark in sustainable biodiversity management.
1. Revenue Growth from Protected Areas
UNDP BIOFIN supported Botswana in reforming entrance and related fees for protected areas after more than two decades of largely unchanged tariffs. The reform has generated approximately US$37.5 million in cumulative revenues, around US$12 million more than would have been generated under the previous fee structure. The result demonstrates how targeted fiscal reform can unlock substantial domestic finance for biodiversity while strengthening the economic value of Botswana's protected areas.
2. Review and Reform of Protected Area Fees
BIOFIN addressed a 20-year stagnation in park entrance fees by implementing a comprehensive review and revision process. The updated fee schedule now applies to all national parks, game reserves, and wildlife management areas, excluding the Kalahari Transfrontier Park.
3. Digitalizing Protected Area Finance
Building on the success of the fee reform, UNDP BIOFIN is supporting the modernization of revenue management in Botswana's protected areas. A digital payment and booking system are being piloted in two national parks to improve revenue tracking, reduce leakage, increase transparency and strengthen visitor services. The wider ambition is to establish a modern booking, payment, and revenue-collection system for Botswana's national parks and game reserves.
4. Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Plan
A dedicated plan was developed to enhance contributions from private actors, especially NGOs and tourism operators. This initiative fosters stakeholder engagement and promotes sustainable financing for protected areas.
5. Results-Based Budgeting for Biodiversity
BIOFIN introduced results-based budgeting (RBB) within the biodiversity sector, focusing on the protected areas system. This approach ensures that financial allocations are directly linked to measurable conservation outcomes.
6. Reforming Harmful Biodiversity Subsidies
In alignment with Aichi Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, BIOFIN Botswana conducted a comprehensive assessment of subsidies across eight sectors—including agriculture, tourism, and energy. The initiative aims to repurpose or eliminate subsidies harmful to biodiversity, proposing redesign options and actionable plans.
7. Policy and Institutional Review
A thorough review of Botswana’s biodiversity-related policies and institutions was completed. While strong policies exist, the review identified gaps in institutional mechanisms, resource allocation, and stakeholder coordination. These insights are guiding future finance solutions and implementation strategies.
1. Online booking, payment, and revenue collection system for Game reserves and National parks in Botswana
This initiative is part of the finance solution outlined in the Protected Area Resource Mobilisation Strategy and Partnership Plan, developed and approved in 2025, aiming to strengthen revenue generation for conservation. The Objective is to develop and implement a digital platform that streamlines the booking, payment, and revenue collection processes for Game reserves and National Parks in Botswana. This system aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in revenue management, while improving user experience and accessibility for both domestic and international clients.
2. Partnership with Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) on Strengthening BECS
BIOFIN Botswana is partnering with the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) to strengthen the Botswana Ecotourism Certification System (BECS) as a flagship mechanism for promoting sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation, and nature-positive economic growth. Through this partnership, BIOFIN is supporting the review and enhancement of BECS to align with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Hotels and Tour Operators Standards Version 4.0, ensuring that Botswana’s certification framework reflects the latest international best practices in sustainable tourism. The collaboration focuses on strengthening certification standards, building institutional and industry capacity, enhancing environmental and social performance across tourism enterprises, and improving access to sustainable finance opportunities. By aligning BECS with GSTC Version 4.0 and advancing its recognition internationally, BIOFIN and BTO are positioning Botswana as a leading ecotourism destination while supporting the long-term resilience, competitiveness, and sustainability of the tourism sector and the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity.
3. Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Finance Sector
This intervention is the result of the Botswana Nature Financial Disclosure readiness and institutional review Study and the establishment of the Green Finance Mainstreaming Working Group (co-chaired by Bank of Botswana and Ministry of Finance), which identified opportunities for integrating nature-related risks and biodiversity considerations into financial systems. The objective is to integrate biodiversity considerations into financial policies, strategies, and investment decisions within Botswana’s finance sector. This initiative seeks to align economic growth with environmental sustainability by promoting green finance instruments, risk assessment frameworks, and capacity building for financial institutions.
