Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation in Botswana’s Communal Rangelands

While raising livestock forms the cultural and economic bedrocks of many communities in Botswana, this practice is becoming increasingly affected by climate change. With rising temperatures and more erratic rainfall, livestock are increasingly moving into wildlife areas to search for water and fodder. This leads to increasing contact between domestic cattle and wild buffalo with infectious foot-and-mouth disease. This project will restore vegetation in communal grazing lands that are particularly impacted by climate change. The restoration and management of grazing vegetation will increase the amount of moisture held by the soil. This will make cattle- raising more resilient to drought, while at the same time enhancing soil carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.