Ecosystem and Livelihoods Resiliency: climate change risk reduction through ecosystem based adaptation in Botswana’s communal grazing lands

The proposal outlines a 6-year project (2018-2023) to build climate resilience for 160,000 people and restore 43,000 km² of rangelands in Botswana. It focuses on transforming communal livestock production through the introduction of 'ecorangers'—trained youth from the repurposed Ipelegeng jobs program—who will implement rotational grazing and monitor ecosystem health. The project seeks to integrate community-based natural resource management, solar and wind-powered water infrastructure, and the creation of farmer-owned social enterprises to improve market access for red meat. With a total estimated cost of USD 44 million, the project is split equally between a GCF grant and co-financing from the Government of Botswana's Poverty Eradication Unit.

• Climate projections for Botswana indicate a decrease in precipitation between -50 and -200 millimeters by 2050, with temperatures likely to increase by 1.5 to 3.5 °C, particularly in the western region.
• Botswana's rangelands are critical for 43% of rural livelihoods and produce 85% of the country's livestock, but they are highly vulnerable to climate change, with droughts already reducing rangeland biomass by over 30%.
• The project aims to directly benefit 160,000 people and restore 43,000 km² of natural ecosystems in three priority landscapes: Ngamiland, Scwhelle, and Bobirwa.
• A central strategy involves repurposing the government's Ipelegeng jobs creation program to employ 3,000 'ecorangers' who will be trained in climate-resilient livestock production and rotational grazing methods.
• To ensure financial sustainability and improve livelihoods, the project will support the creation of farmer-owned social enterprises and the use of mobile abattoir technology to bypass existing market barriers for communal farmers.
• The project will address water scarcity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil-fuel powered pumps with solar and wind-powered alternatives for livestock water points.
• The total project cost is estimated at USD 44 million, consisting of a USD 22 million grant request from the GCF and USD 22 million in co-financing from the Government of Botswana's Poverty Eradication Unit.

APA

Green Climate Fund (2017). Ecosystem and Livelihoods Resiliency: climate change risk reduction through ecosystem based adaptation in Botswana’s communal grazing lands. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/17830-ecosystem-and-livelihoods-resiliency-climate-change-risk-reduction-through-ecosystem-based.pdf

Chicago

Green Climate Fund. Ecosystem and Livelihoods Resiliency: climate change risk reduction through ecosystem based adaptation in Botswana’s communal grazing lands. 2017. https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/17830-ecosystem-and-livelihoods-resiliency-climate-change-risk-reduction-through-ecosystem-based.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Green Climate Fund |title=Ecosystem and Livelihoods Resiliency: climate change risk reduction through ecosystem based adaptation in Botswana’s communal grazing lands |date=21 October 2017 |url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/17830-ecosystem-and-livelihoods-resiliency-climate-change-risk-reduction-through-ecosystem-based.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greenclimatefund2017ecosystem, author = {{Green Climate Fund}}, title = {{Ecosystem and Livelihoods Resiliency: climate change risk reduction through ecosystem based adaptation in Botswana’s communal grazing lands}}, institution = {Green Climate Fund}, year = {2017}, month = oct, url = {https://www.greenclimate.fund/sites/default/files/document/17830-ecosystem-and-livelihoods-resiliency-climate-change-risk-reduction-through-ecosystem-based.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }