This week Alexandra Cousteau and the Expedition Blue Planet crew caught up with Onkokame Kitso Mokaila Botswana’s Minister of the Environment, Wildlife, and Tourism. The Bostwana government is considered a role model in terms of its careful management of the environment, which it values as a precious resource—and major source of tourism-generated income. The Minister discussed the importance of involving all stakeholders in the conversation, including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, wildlife, cattle ranchers, and the people of Botswana as well as Namibia and Angloa, where the Delta’s water originates. He was clearly proud of his country and its President, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, whom he said “is a conservationist through and through.”

“We have a saying,” Minister Mokaila said. “Every river has its people… It’s all about water. It’s all about water. Maybe in some countries water is taken for granted. For us it’s not because it’s not readily available. It’s like gold to us. Water is life!” Amazing: he even said our Expedition slogan unprompted!