Environment in Botswana Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

This Environment in Botswana Essay example is published for educational and informational purposes only. If you need a custom essay or research paper on this topic, please use our writing services. EssayEmpire.com offers reliable custom essay writing services that can help you to receive high grades and impress your professors with the quality of each essay or research paper you hand in.

The Republic of Botswana is located in southern Africa, between South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Botswana covers 600,370 square kilometers (231,803 square miles), equivalent to an area twice the size of Arizona. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence on September 30, 1966. The country is named after the dominant ethnic group, the Tswana. Botswana has a population of 1,765,000 people, with 195,000 living in Gaborone, the capital city.

Botswana is the oldest democracy in Africa, with four decades of civilian leadership, a pluriform multiparty system, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment. As one of the Frontline States, Botswana played an influential role in countering the former apartheid government of South Africa.

Botswana has one of the most dynamic economies in Africa, characterized by the most rapid growth in per capita income in the world since 1966. The economy is strong, with one of the highest credit ratings of any African country. Botswana has a proven record of good economic governance and is ranked the least corrupt country in Africa. The economy is dominated by the mining sector, with Botswana being the largest exporter of gemstone diamonds in the world. Other minerals, including copper, nickel, salt, soda, ash, and potash, are also extracted. Livestock production is also an important part of the economy, as Botswana is the largest exporter of beef to the European community. Only 0.6 percent of the land in Botswana is farmed, and major crops include sorghum, maize, millet, and groundnuts. Another source of revenue is tourism, which is a growing sector due to the abundant number of large game that are protected in parks and reserves that cover 15 percent of the country.

Botswana has the second-highest rate of HIV/ AIDS infection in the world (after Swaziland) with 37.5 percent of the total population infected. This has resulted in a decline in the average life expectancy to 33.7 years (the lowest in the world) as well as a nonexistent growth rate in population. However, Botswana also has one of Africa’s most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease. While English is the official language, there are several local dialects reflecting various ethnic groups, including Setswana (spoken by the Tswana, who make up 79 percent of the population), Kalanga (11 percent), and Basarwa (3 percent). Half of the country has indigenous religious beliefs, while 30 percent are Christian, and the remaining 20 percent observe other religions. Literacy rate is 80 percent.

Great Wilderness Areas

Two of Africa’s great wildernesses, the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Delta, are found in Botswana. The Kalahari covers nearly 70 percent of the country. While Botswana is landlocked, 2.5 percent of the country is covered in water with most of it in the Okavango Delta, the world’s largest inland delta. In addition to the desert and delta, there is a large saltpan in the north (the Makgadikgadi) while the rest of the country is covered in rolling hills of grasslands and savanna. These diverse habitats are one reason for the rich fauna in the country, including the Blue Wildebeest and antelope. Three environmental issues facing the country are desertification, overgrazing, and limited sources of fresh water.

Bibliography:

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, (Central Intelligence Agency, 2006);
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Country Report: Botswana; (EIU, 2006);
John F. McCoy, Geo-data: The World Geographical Encyclopedia (ThomsonGale, 2003).