Project Detail

Letseng-la-Terai Integrated Rangeland Management and Wetlands Rehabilitation Project

GROW request financial support to implement the proposed Let?eng-la-Terai Integrated Rangeland Management and Wetlands Rehabilitation (Lihlabeng) Project. The project overarching goal is to increase the availability of water through rehabilitation of the wetlands and management of rangeland; therefore contributing to flourishing international waters and improving livelihoods gained through production of wool and mohair locally. This intended goal fits squarely in the Sixth GEF-SGP Operational Strategy.

In the Lesotho landscape, the highlands are considered a priority area not only because of the critical ecosystem services they generate and it being home to an array of biodiversity and unique conditions, but also due to the poverty-stricken, rural communities who reside in the landscape. The landscape is highly vulnerable to climatic changes, which are exacerbated by land use mismanagement, unsustainable water sources use, and overall environmental degradation.

The project targets the rangeland and wetlands areas of Let?eng-la-Terai (Tlaeeng Pass to Mot?eremeli) in the Khubelu watershed. These areas are populated with cattle posts that host thousands of sheep and goats. The wetlands in this area are sources to several tributaries to Orange Senqu River. Rangeland mismanagement and unsustainable use of wetlands in this area have led to diminishing of water sources for valuable livestock and overall environmental degradation. This situation continues to pose a serious threat to international waters and contribution made by wool and mohair farmers to the national Gross Domestic Product.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

GROW

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

International Waters
International Waters

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y2 (Jul 16-Jun 17)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,151.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 33,381.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP6/Y2/CORE/IW/2016/04

Start Date:

4/2017

End Date:

2/2018

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Planning gef grant

Replication of project activities

A smaller grantee, Mofolaneng Grazing Association, doing similar work in the same watershed, participated in the training and demonstration work done through the project with the result that they are quite ahead with their project implantation as compared to peers doing similar work.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Activities will be undertaken by the user community (herd boys and livestock owners) as a way of imparting targeted training. Field open days will be organized fore the local community jointly with partner government departments. There will be deliberate effort to include special groups like women and youth in all project activities. GROW will continue to convene periodic meetings for all SGP grantees in Mokhotlong district to facilitate knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer advise and encouragement for all to achieve more with less.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

All communication at local gatherings and in demonstration and training workshops will be done in the local language, Sesotho which is also an official language.

Gender Focus

By improving the ecosystem services through the envisaged rehabilitation activities, livestock and its products will be improved in the long run and availability of water will be improved with the result that distances traveled by women to collect water will be reduced. There number of women livestock owners is increasing and these will be targeted to improve their involvement in discussions and decisions regarding development and agreement on range resources management plans.

Project sustainability

GROW continues to undertake monitoring visits with the Departments of Water Affairs and Range Resources and local authorities to ensure that project results are maintained over the long term.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

GROW has intensive experience in community mobilization and accountability work. Through community gatherings and target group meetings, the organization will work with local authorities and key line ministries to disseminate information on the project. Key district platforms and GROW's own online platforms will be used to communicate project information.

Planning non gef grant

GROW is ready to take advantage of the funding opportunity provided by the ICM project being operationalized by the Department of Water Resources with EU support with grant making scheduled for 2019. The just completed project falls within the Khubelu Sponges area - a component of the ORASECOM programme. With up scaling of the Khubelu sponges project also on the cards, GROW will endeavor to access resources to be availed by the up-scaling process.

Notable Community Participation

Herd boys are the strongest link in range resources management. The will be deliberate effort to target them in the awareness and training activities lined up.

Capacity - Building Component

The grantee is undertaking a project requiring technical backstopping from various line ministries namely Department of Water Affairs for wetlands rehabilitation; the District Coordination Office for Range Resources Management construction of appropriate soil and water conservation structures; and provision of appropriate training for resources users particularly herd-boys and livestock owners.

Policy Impact

The grantee will work in partnership with two government departments namely Department of Range Resources Management and Department of Water Affairs. This will highlight the critical importance of collaboration and strengthen partnerships for integrated catchment management

Linkages gef projects

There are currently no large GEF projects being implemented in the project area.

Policy Influence

Through collaborative work done during project implementation, fertile ground has been created for

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Wool an mohair production is the mainstay of the economy of the mountain communities. The main thrust of the project is rehabilitation and protection of wetlands for continued supply of water for the livestock and capacity development in sustainable range resources management which in the long term will improve wool and mohair quality and quantity.

Project Results

- Through construction of a total of 8 gabions with a total length of 48 meters, 240 meter stone-line and diversion furrows about 5 hectares making up 8% of a threatened wetland is under restoration. Velocity of run off has been significantly reduced resulting in sedimentation behind the constructed structures. The wetlands form part of the Palustrine system of wetlands found in the highlands of Lesotho, in the Mokhotlong district.

- A total of 60 herd-boys who are the strongest link in range resources management and future livestock owners, participated in the rehabilitation activities and received training in sustainable range management, brush control, wetlands rehabilitation and protection and sustainable use. This doubled up as a platform for passing on knowledge and experience in natural resources management and good livestock husbandry practices to youth and to motivate them to engage in nature conservation.

- A smaller grantee, Mofolaneng Grazing Association, doing similar work in the same watershed, participated in the training and demonstration work done through the project with the result that they are quite ahead with their project implantation as compared to other grazing associations which are doing similar work.

- The project was implemented in the Khubelu catchment, within the area designated for up-scaling of the Khubelu Sponges project, a SADC supported initiative under trans-boundary water courses programme.

- The project was implemented in collaboration with the departments of Water Resources and Range resources supported by local authorities with the result that partnerships for ICM have been strengthened

- A total of 345 (169 women, 89 men and 87 children) people benefited through awareness campaigns, training and construction works done during project implementation.

- GROW continues to convene periodic meetings for all Mokhotlong grantees, 10 in all, for sharing of ideas and experiences/lessons and to encourage each other to achieve more with less and for greater impact of interventions in the district.

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