Pride In Our Prides
Coexistence between livestock farmers and lions is tenuous in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. In 2013, farmers used poison to eradicate half the local lion population in retaliation for livestock losses. To reduce poison, we’ve fitted lions with satellite tracking collars and asked villagers to name the cats. We’ve developed a first-of-its-kind Lion Alert System that disperses automated warnings in real-time to help farmers take preventative action. Since inception, we’ve dispersed 40,000 alerts to over 360 farmer. There have been no lion poisonings since 2019 and the lion population has more than doubled in ten years.
Communal Herding Program
On communal lands of northern Botswana, unattended cattle may stray for weeks- falling prey to lions and causing environmental damage through overgrazing. We established the first communal herd in Botswana, based on Herding 4 Health principles. Our partner communities elected a Grazing Committee to establish seasonal cattle management practices. We identified herders and trained them in rangeland health, basic veterinary care and lion conflict mitigation techniques. As a results, we are managing cattle in adapted traditional ways for rangeland restoration that promotes, healthy, carbon-rich soils. In addition, our herds are certified Wildlife Friendly, giving responsible farmers access to premium markets with a higher payout.
Women's Empowerment
As new opportunities arise, we are committed to greater representation for women. Currently, women occupy 55% of our top leadership positions and they are thriving. As a result, so is CLAWS! Beyond leadership, women leaders have taken positions traditionally held by men including herding with opportunities for advancement.
Community Led Conservation
Conservation success is entirely dependent on the decisions of local people. CLAWS is committed to a compassionate approach to conservation through local engagement and leadership. Within our team, 94% are African born with over 75% raised in our partner villages. We follow the direction of village elected Grazing Committees within our Communal Herding Program and report our results directly to community member in bi-monthly meetings.
