The Ghanzi region where CCB is based is rich in biodiversity including veldt products, also known as non-timber forest products (NTFP). Communities in this area have relied on these natural resources for millennia for use in cooking, building and crafts, and for medicinal and cultural purposes. However, only relatively recently have veld product markets become more formalized in Botswana with local companies starting to experiment with an array of products made from various local plant species. Those in Botswana’s capital city, Gaborone, may have seen Morula (Sclerocarya birrea) based hot sauces and jams, Kalahari melon seed (Citrullus lanatus), baobab (Adansonia digitata) infused body lotions, and Sengaparile (Devil’s claw - Harpagophytum procumbens) based teas. 
 
A number of communities in Ghanzi, Kgalagadi, Kweneng and Southern Districts have been harvesting Sengaparile, popularly known for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, destined for markets in Europe, the largest being in Germany. These are exciting times as this growing national production and new markets offer an opportunity for developing the full value chain and consequently, the role of host communities within that chain. As stewards of the land where these different plant species are found, the traditional knowledge of these communities of where these species can be found, how to harvest, when to harvest and how much to harvest cannot be underplayed, as it is this understanding that forms the basis of sustainable utilization.
 
With a recent grant received from the UNDP Kgalagadi Ghanzi Drylands Ecosystem Project (KGDEP), CCB will be able to further the work in this thematic area by partnering with the likes of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR) and private sector players from the Natural Products Association of Botswana (NPAB) such as Matebeleng Milling. Each partner brings their specific expertise, to enable us to update veld assessments, develop participatory harvesting plans for different species and explore the potential to cultivate others. With NPAB, we hope to enhance host communities’ understanding of market systems, needs and access, while with companies such as Matebeleng Milling, we hope to link communities in the project area with established, fair and reliable markets. The grant includes setting up a veld product centre in Bere which would serve multiple functions including being an information resource on veld products in the region, and a central point for drying and storage of the plants after harvest that will serve several settlements.   
 
“We want to ensure that people of the Ghanzi region, through their Community Trusts, have access to fair trade markets for their veld products, that they gain skills and knowledge that can improve their livelihoods whilst co-existing with wildlife within their wildlife management areas,’ said Mr Douglas Thamage, CCB’s Operations Manager. 

Above: Veld products, as well as crafts, were displayed and for sale during the US Embassy's African launch of the Fund for Cultural Preservation with CCB in Kacgae. 

We asked and you stepped up to assist. Our goal for the 2023 Mid-Year Fundraiser was $15,000 and you made it happen! Every bit that went into making this achievement possible is greatly appreciated.

The funds will go directly toward building a Care and Training Facility for our Livestock Guarding Dog programme. This facility is part of the infrastructure that will be at our forever home. We look forward to welcoming farmers and students to learn more about the LGD programme. We are excited to establish an area that will cater to veterinary needs of puppies, livestock, and even cheetahs. This investment will go a long way.

​From us all at CCB, we'd like to extend a gesture of gratitude to each and every single one of our supporters. Le kamoso, re a leboga!

Ncojane is a small village located in the Ghanzi District in western Botswana, approximately 20 kilometres from the border with Namibia. The area is experiencing significant desertification due to poor livestock management practices and bushmeat poaching. These two factors result in a combination of unproductive rangelands, resulting in weak livestock and limited wildlife for carnivores to prey on. This results in the livestock in the area being more vulnerable to attacks from cheetahs, African wild dogs, leopards, jackals and lions. Recently we received reports from farmers in the area who lost a total of sixteen goats to predators, and our CCB’s Farming for Conservation (FFC) team was quick to respond and assist.
 
As part of its capacity building mandate, on the 4th of May 2023 CCB held a workshop at Ncojane, hosting farmers from nearby cattleposts and farms. This workshop was organised in response to the increasing reports of conflicts between farmers and predators. The workshop aimed to engage with farmers and share skills on carnivore-friendly farming techniques that these farmers could adopt to promote coexistence with carnivores. Topics that were discussed included grazing management, anti-poaching, reducing the risk of depredation and herd health. There were also presentations from different stakeholders who are involved in wildlife conservation issues; including the Department of Veterinary Services, Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the Botswana Police and two local farmers’ Committees (Lesha Chasha and Ncojane Famers’ Committee). We are thankful to all involved in the workshop and hope that with the newfound information, these farmers will be equipped with the knowledge to improve the productivity of their farms whilst also coexisting with carnivores. 

As we prepare to start construction on staff accommodation at our new camp, we want to get ready to move our demonstration farm and livestock guarding dog (LGD) training facility too. Thankfully, the farm we bought already has a livestock enclosure that we will be able to modify for our demonstration farm. But we still need to develop safe areas to house our LGD puppies during training before we deliver them over to farmers. We have learned a lot from the recent shutting down of our LGD training centre due to a nation-wide parvovirus outbreak, and the plans for our new LGD training facility include a hygienic quarantine area for new incoming puppies, to reduce the risk of diseases transfer to our demonstration farm and other LGDs. This will ensure that our LGDs remain in the best health, and that we can continue to place LGDs with farmers who are experiencing conflict with carnivores.

As well as the LGD quarantine and housing areas, this facility will also include a veterinary clinic. This clinic will give us a clean and hygienic environment to care for any puppies, LGDs, or livestock that are in need of medical assistance. This facility will also provide a safe environment to tend to any injured or orphaned cheetahs that come into our care.

The facility will include:
• sanitary puppy quarantine facility
• dog houses
• weather-proof shading that enables good ventilation
• a veterinary clinic to attend to all puppy, dog, livestock and cheetah needs
• a storage area for equipment & veterinary supplies.

We need your help to make this facility a reality! For the month of July, we aim to raise $15,000 to build our brand new LGD Puppy Training and Care facility.

If you love our LGD programme as much as we do, this is your chance to become a lasting part of it! Help us to build our new LGD training facility by making a donation via this link. No amount is too small.

From all of us at the CCB team, the farmers and from all the puppies – thank you for your support!

​Re a leboga.