Written question asked by Bill Wiggin (Conservative) on Monday, 6 February 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 February 2023. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 February 2023 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Botswana: Nature Conservation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Botswana on the potential impact of the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill on that country's (a) economy and (b) model of wildlife conservation.

Answer: The UK Government is at the forefront of international efforts to protect endangered animals and plants from poaching and illegal trade. The Hunting Trophies Bill is a further example of the UK's commitment to leading the way in protecting endangered animals. The UK regularly engages with counterparts in Southern Africa on these issues and engaged with Zambia and Botswana specifically regarding controls on the import and export of hunting trophies to and from the UK. More recently, in July 2022 Lord Goldsmith met the Botswanan Minister of Environment and Tourism and discussed the UK's proposal.

Secondary information