This Act provides a comprehensive framework for wildlife and national parks management under the supervision of a Director of Wildlife and National Parks, and for giving effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and other international conventions to which Botswana may from time to time be a party. Part II designates specific areas as National Parks, and gives power to the President to declare any State or bequeathed land as a national park. The responsibility for control, management and maintenance of national parks shall fall on the Minister, with specific responsibilities set forth in section 6. The Minister may delegate his responsibilities to the Director or any wildlife officer. A list of activities prohibited in parks is provided, including the entry of persons without permission, the cutting of trees, the removal of animals, etc. This part also gives the President power to declare game reserves and sanctuaries, and private game reserves. Part III provides for the establishment of wildlife management areas and controlled hunting areas by the President, and the enables the President to draw up regulations regarding such areas. Part IV specifies a list of protected animals in Botswana, and imposes a fine of P10 000 and imprisonment of seven years for persons who hunt or capture such animals without authorization, with higher fines for rhinoceros. Part V deals with hunting generally, and provides that licences are required for the hunting of all animals, except in the case of personal consumption of non-protected animals outside of a national park or game reserve, or in the case of hunting non-protected animals by someone holding "landholder's privileges" on the land subject to that privilege.
Even in the latter cases, however, hunting is subject to certain restrictions. Subsequent sections of the act deal with game ranching (Part VI), the types and issuing of hunting licences (Part VII), and the issuance of permits for certain special situations, such as the capture of any animal for scientific research or the killing of animals in a park or reserve where the Director is satisfied that such killing is necessary for protection of life or property or in the interests of conservation (Part VIII). Part IX provides rules regarding professional guides and hunters, defines unlawful methods of hunting, and covers situations such as the killing of animals in self-defence or accident. Part X deals with the sale or export of animals or animal parts, while Part XI deals specifically with ivory and rhinoceros horn. General provisions in Part XIV pertain to topics such as hunting in forest areas (for which permission must be obtained under the Forest Act), the keeping of animals in confinement, the ownership of animals on private land, and the issuing of regulations.
An Act to make further and better provision for the conservation and management of the wildlife in Botswana, giving effect to the CITES and any other international convention for the protection of fauna and flora to which Botswana is, from time to time, a party, to provide for the establishment, control and management of national parks and game reserves, and for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith.
Date of consolidation/reprint 31 Dec 2008Consolidated version of Act No. 28 of 1992 as at 31 December 2008.This Act repeals the Fauna Conservation Act and the National Parks Act.