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Statement by His Excellency Mr Festus G
Mogae, President of the Republic of Botswana
Let me begin by affirming how glad I am to have been given the opportunity to join the rest of you in support of one of our true national treasures – the Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Since its creation just under a decade ago, the name “Mokolodi” has become increasingly familiar not only to the people of this country but, indeed, throughout much of the rest of the world.
From classrooms in Tutume to cattle ranches in Texas, people of all walks of life have shared in the pleasure of visiting the Reserve. Its guests have come to include the high and mighty from beyond our borders. Heads of State and royalty, as well as countless other VIP's, have been among those who have marvelled at its flora and fauna. Indeed, in the process some of Mokolodi's permanent residents have, themselves, become global celebrities!
One of the biggest news stories out of Africa a few weeks ago involved the amorous escapades of two of the Reserve's elephants. These passionate pachyderms, I am reliably informed, succeeded in capturing the imaginations of politicians, commentators and comics alike in at least one large nation to the far north of us.
Yet, while the considerable international attention engendered by Mokolodi has been welcome, of greater significance, in my opinion, has been the fact that Mokolodi's visitors each year have also included tens of thousands of ordinary people from here as well as abroad. Among these are over twelve thousand of our own school children who annually benefit from the Reserve’s multi-faceted environmental education programmes.
Hopefully, some of these young men and women will be encouraged to devote their lives to the cause of conservation. Certainly they will have come away with an enhanced appreciation of our nations' unique natural heritage.
Master of Ceremonies, in the light of its domestic and global impact, the name “Mokolodi” has become a growing source of pride for the citizens of this country.
Who would have predicted such a development back in 1991 when a relative handful of people came together to form the Mokolodi Wildlife Foundation with the primary aim of promoting wildlife conservation and environmental education for the children of Botswana? Just three years later their vision was rewarded when the Nature Reserve came into existence on 30 square kilometres of donated land, which conveniently located near, but aesthetically far removed, from, the hustle and bustle of Gaborone.
With the financial and moral support of the local and international benefactors, the reserve has emerged from its humble beginning to steadily build itself up to its current status as an internationally recognised educational, conservation and tourist facility.
Today, within this small arcadia one can find a range of natural occurring animal species such as warthogs, steenbok, kudu, not to mention a wide variety of snakes (who I am re- assured tend to keep low profile) .In addition the area has also become the home to several wildlife that have been effectively re- introduced into the environment of the south eastern Botswana, including zebra, giraffe, eland, ostrich, hippos, and rhinos.
Besides being the home to a diversity of flora and fauna, including over a third of Botswana's White Rhino population, Mokolodi also houses one of two wild animal orphanages in Botswana. It also has the country's only wild Cheetah Transit Station for the relocation of problem cheetahs brought by ranchers, and four young, orphaned African elephants who are being raised as a joint venture with the Serendib Elephant Orphanage. These and other wildlife and nature conservation projects have become an integral part of the Reserves comprehensive environmental education programme, which caters to scholars of various educational levels. The now renowned Education Centre has as its stated objectives:
To create generations of children who are knowledgeable about their natural heritage and are interested in preserving it.
To provide students and teachers with an opportunity to learn not only about wild life, but also about different habitats, eco systems, plants , trees and their traditional uses and to learn about cultural practices that have an environmental focus .
To provide students and teachers with opportunities to see conservation in action in a natural setting
To encourage on- going long –term environmental projects in the students own home.
To promote the concept and practices of sustainable development with an environmental focus.
(And finally) To promote the concept of behaviour, values and action for the environment.
In order to fulfil these objectives, the centre is equipped with sleeping accommodation and facilities for up to 80 children at a time. Their well-qualified staff use the outdoor classroom to instil a love of Nature, and a sense of ownership of Botswana's national treasures in local children. In this way they can discover for themselves the timeless lessons of nature. As the great Shakespeare was moved to observe over four centuries ago:
"And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in everything". (From: AS YOU LIKE IT)
During the summer months the Education Centre also hosts the Hole in the Wall Gang summer Camps. These camps, founded by the famous Hollywood actor director Paul Newman, provide fun and social support for HIV/ AIDS affected children. Last year the camps hosted over 200 such children. I am told that this year the number is expected to be greater.
Also integrated into the Reserve's educational and conservation programmes are such initiatives as the Grey Water Recycling Project, the Permaculture Garden, and the Wild Animal Sanctuary form a part of this programme.
Ladies and gentlemen, in many ways the Mokolodi Nature Reserve has also become a model for the sort of sustainable development that we would wish to see in similar projects. Since its inception, the Reserves guiding philosophy has been that the income from tourism and the use of wildlife and natural resources should be used to subsidise the conservation projects and the environmental education programme. After an initial struggle, this is being archived, and Mokolodi now covers its recurrent costs, employing over 70 people whereas previously, as a cattle ranch, the land only employed 9 people.
In this respect, it is also pleasing for me to note that the majority of the Reserves employees are residents of the neighbouring Mokolodi Village. As a result of this intimate relationship with the village the local community has a strong sense of ownership over the Reserve.
For its part the reserve has been proactively involved in developing community facilities, thus making a positive contribution to the local standard of the living.
The Nature Reserve has also been active in the promotion of local culture. A prominent example of this is the Ditshwene Dance troupe, a self- formed group of youngsters who perform at specific Reserve activities. They are paid for their performances and the money they make is collected and directed towards furthering their education. I know of no better example of a project that is so effectively engaged in education, conservation, tourism and rural community interaction.
The success of Mokolodi has in large part been due to constant efforts to continuously upgrade what the Reserve offer. It is to support this drive that we gather here tonight.
One of the projects that will benefit from this fund raising exercise is the future Worlds View Multi – Purpose facility, which is being constructed on the top of Mmatshedikwe Hill that provides a stunning view of the Reserve and surrounding countryside. It is further anticipated that this new addition to the reserve s infrastructure will ultimately provide another sustainable income source that will help to further subsidise further community outreach activities on a sustainable basis.
In conclusion, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I wish to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been associated with the Mokolodi miracle for their past, present and future contributions. Your continued good efforts are an inspiration and challenge to others.
PULA!
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