Tachila Nature Reserve
Background
The Republic of Botswana covers an area the size of France in the heart of Southern Africa and is home to some of the world’s remaining wild and unspoilt areas – the inland delta of the Okavango, the Kalahari Desert, the palm-studded Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, and the pristine bush areas of the north, that is teeming with wildlife including elephant, lion and buffalo amongst others.
With independence and the discovery of diamonds in the sixties the country saw rapid growth in terms of business, infrastructure and population. As worldwide demand for minerals and metals increases the development in Botswana continues. In and around Francistown, in the northeast of the country, the growth of the city is having a major effect on the natural environment. Unlike the other major cities and towns in Botswana, Francistown and the surrounding northeast district lacks preserved areas that facilitate recreation and environmental education, and places that provide its people with an opportunity to experience their natural heritage first hand. Francistown is the second largest administrative centre in Botswana, serving as the regional headquarters for most Central Government Ministries and Departments
The Tachila Nature Reserve has been established on 8,000 hectares of donated just under 5km from the city boundary. The aim is to preserve part of the natural and historical heritage of Francistown in order to provide a practical environmental education and recreational facility for its peoples, promote wildlife and other natural resource conservation, and increase local eco-tourism potential and employment opportunities.
Tachila Nature Reserve
The reserve is ideally located and will be accessible to all. Tachila aims to provide a good restaurant, bar and lodge, public campsite, nature and historical walks, game drives, informative talks and workshops, and braai and picnic sites that will ultimately promote tourism and help diversify the local economy. Employment opportunities will be increased directly through the reserve, as well as improving opportunities for spin-off businesses relating to tourism and conservation. The fence is currently being erected and game guards employed, funded by Tusk
Game species that have disappeared from the area will be re-introduced to re-establish their historical range and, generally, sustain the areas biodiversity. Some endangered and rare species of game will be introduced to increase their conservation status and range in Botswana, e.g. rhino, roan and sable antelope. By creating environmental awareness through a proposed environmental education centre Tachila will help promote long-term conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Tachila will work closely with the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, in the south of the country. Mokolodi, a Tusk funded project, was created over ten years ago to provide similar facilities to the population of Gaborone. In particular its education programme has been incredibly successful - over 12,000 children visit Mokolodi each year and Tachila hopes it will have a similar influence on the population of Francistown.
Comments from the field
Having witnessed the success of the Tusk funded Mokolodi Nature Reserve Tusk decided to award of grant of £5,000 to the Tachila Nature Reserve to establish a team of game guards on the conservancy to protect and monitor the resident game. Tachila have created water holes to encourage further game. In addition Tachila have secured an interest free loan of 1 million Pula (£83,000 pounds) from a local businessman to purchase materials to fence the reserve. BlackRock Investment Management have recently agreed to help part fund the Education Centre.
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