The Importance of Wild Animals to the Economy of Botswana

1. Importance of Wild
Animals to Botswana
The Importance of Wild Animals

2. Employment creation
 Over 8 000 people in Botswana are employed in
wildlife and tourism related sectors e.g. employed
by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks,
Department of Tourism, in hotels, safari companies
among many others.

3. Revenue and Foreign
exchange earner
Wild animals in protected areas generate revenue for the
Botswana Government through the following ways:
(i) Gate Fees
Gate fees are paid by tourists when entering a protected
area.
(ii) Lease and Rental Fees
A land lease is a rental on the use of the land. Tour
operators in wildlife areas are charged lease and rental fees
by government. Some pay to district councils.

4. Revenue and Foreign
exchange earner

5. Revenue and Foreign
exchange earner
 (iii) Taxes
Private business people such as hotel owners in
wildlife areas pay taxes to government.
(iv) Hunting licences
Both commercial and subsistence hunters are charged
fees for hunting wild animals. The fees are paid to the
government.

6. Developments
Revenue earned from wild animals is used to develop
the country. Infrastructure in the form of roads,
airports and hotels, are some of the examples of such
developments.

7. Industtries
 Some industries have emerged as a result of
wildlife. Botswana is also involved in commercial
wildlife production in the form of farming and
ranching

8. Source of Food
 Some wild animals are an important source of food.
This has led to game farming. Can you name any
wild animals kept by farmers in Botswana? You
may have seen some ostrich and crocodile farms in
Botswana. These animals are exported for their
meat and other by-products.