Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative in Botswana Rene Czudek (L) and Botswana's Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Philda Kereng (R) pose for a photo during the launch of a land degradation assessment project in Gaborone, Botswana on Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)
GABORONE. Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism (MENT) through the Department of Forestry and Range Resources (DFRR) in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched Land Degradation Assessment, Monitoring and Restoration project on Tuesday in Botswana's capital city Gaborone.
Philda Kereng, Minister of MENT said Botswana government has committed about 1 million U.S. dollars towards the implementation of the project for a period of three years.
"Considering the magnitude and complexity of the project, the government identified and engaged the FAO to capacitate the DFRR by providing expertise and technical know-how, as well as to administer the funds", she said.
Rene Czudek, FAO Representative in Botswana, said the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) donated about 40,000 U.S. dollars towards supporting Botswana's efforts in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
The project comprises a number of components, which include land degradation assessment and mapping, land degradation monitoring system establishment, land restoration strategy Development and setting of LDN.
