Today marks a great milestone in Botswana conservation. Sixty years ago, on 15 March 2063,  the Moremi Game Reserve was created, one of the first reserves in Africa to be formed by the indigenous population, working together with conservationists.

Concerned by the rapid depletion of wildlife due to uncontrolled hunting and cattle encroachment the Ngamiland Fauna Conservation Society, together with prominent members of the local Batswana community, campaigned to protect an important section of the Okavango Delta.

Finally, on 15 March 1963, the Moremi Game Reserve was created, named after Chief Moremi III of the local Batawana tribe. Importantly, the chieftaincy whose land spread across the proposed protected area, was involved in the preservation society right from the beginning.

 

Interestingly this was under the leadership of the deceased Chief Moremi III’s wife, Elizabeth Pulane Moremi (pictured). Mrs Moremi was progressive woman who played an important role in persuading the community of the need to protect their ancestral lands.

It was thanks to this bold initiative that one of Botswana’s richness resources, the Okavango Delta, was preserved for future generations.