Botswana may be one of Africa’s lesser-known countries, but it often leads the way when it comes to conservation.
This country was one of the first to implement the banning of plastic bags in its country, and Botswana conservation is at the heart of the government’s policies.
Looking Further Afield for Solutions
In this light, it’s not surprising that Botswana’s conservation agencies are thinking way out of the box when it comes to fire management techniques.
Worldwide, interest in Aboriginal fire knowledge has spiked as a consequence of Australia’s recent bushfires, and now it has reinvigorated traditional fire management practices in Botswana too.
Putting Out Fires Before They Start
The Aboriginal system involves using fire to manage natural resources by burning areas in the early dry season. At this time of year, it’s easy to control the intensity of bush fires so the tree canopy remains intact. These methods also remove the early season accumulation of leaves, which fuels the flames of accidental fires.
Australia reintroduced traditional fire management techniques in 2007, and there are currently 76 of these projects underway.
Now, Botswana has got on the bandwagon with Australia in a study to test the effectiveness of their fire burning methods versus the Aboriginal one.
Burning Issues in Botswana
The first ranger exchange got underway during May 2019, when the Botswana government invited a team of indigenous rangers from Northern Australia to test their methods against Botswana’s own controlled burning tactics.
The Aborigine method proved far superior, leaving a canopy of green-topped trees, while Botswana’s more recently adopted European methods left a charred strip of destruction in its wake.
As a result, Botswana is now implementing some of the Aboriginal ways of doing things to help conserve biodiversity and promote a productive landscape. They’ve also decided to revisit their own traditional methods of burning fire breaks once again, enhanced by what they’ve learned from Australia.
It’s likely these fire-prevention measures will also contribute to a considerable reduction in carbon emissions from uncontrolled bushfires.
This cooperation between two nations is exactly the kind of thing that the world needs to see more of if we want to ensure a greener future for all.
If you’re curious about Botswana’s exceptional conservation measures, get in touch to book your 2021 safari right away and you could get to experience it for yourself.
