Project Detail

Rehabilitation and sustainable management of the rangeland resources of Sehlabathebe

Despit the fact that the proposed project site is in one of the villages neighboring Sehlabathebe National Park, which is now part of the Maloti Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site, a transboundary site between Lesotho and South Africa, it is infested with alien invasive plants with uncontrolled fires posing a serious threat to the Park, a challenge which has troubled the Grazing Assoication since its establishment in 1982. Conflicts over rangeland, with communities in neighboring villages even from neighboring districts are a major threat not only to the resources but also to the safety of local communities, with livestock theft complicating the issue even further.
The project is aimed at rehabilitating rangelands through eradication of alien invasive species; adopting sustainable rangeland resources management practices and strengthening the intittutional structures governening natural resosurces management. The Society will be assisted to carry out a reconnaissance survey and package its project concept into a full project proposal meeting the requirements of the GEF SGP.

Specifically, the project will work towards:

i. Carrying out a baseline study on the status of, threats to and institutional arrangements for the managmement of rangeland resources of Sehlabathebe Ha Semenyane;
ii. Creating more awareness about sustainable management of rangelands; and fire management among local communities and key stakeholders, particularly local herd boys
iii. Training and capacity development for local authorities and members of the GA
iv. Developing an all inclusive integrated programme for range resources management
v. Developing a full project proposal informed by the basesline

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Sehlabathebe Grazing Association

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y2 (Jul 16-Jun 17)

Grant Amount:

US$ 5,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 5,000.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP6/Y2/CORE/LD/2016/06

Start Date:

2/2017

End Date:

4/2017

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Linkages gef projects

Planning gef grant

Planning non gef grant

Policy Influence

Project sustainability

Replication of project activities

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

All consultations, particularly at the local level are and will be conducted in the local language, Sesotho, which also an official language in the country.

Capacity - Building Component

During review of submitted project concepts and during project appraisal visits conducted by the NSC it was determined that the grantee lacks capacity to put together a project proposal. A planning grant was therefore awarded to enable the grantee to engage an expert work with to carry out a reconnaissance survey and package its project concept into a full project proposal meeting the requirements of the GEF SGP.

Notable Community Participation

Herd-link are the strongest in the management of rangelands. effort will be made get their views on he threats to the resource and possible solutions to the identified the identified threats.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project document being elaborated with the assistance of an expert will lay out a menu of economic/livelihood support activities to be implemented in the project site.

Policy Impact

The proposed project site falls within the buffer zone of the Maloti Drakensberg Park (Sehlabathebe National Park on the Lesotho side of the world heritage property). Successful implementation of the project will contribute towards maintaining the integrity ad outstanding universal value of the property.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

To be elaborated in the full project document

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

To be elaborated in the full project document.

Project Results

- 1150 members (500 men and 650 women) of Sehlabathebe Grazing Association (SGA), in Qacha's Nek, through engagement of an expert, were empowered to identify challenges in sustainable management of rangeland and wetland resources, viable solutions to address the challenges and package them into a viable proposal on sustainable land management for improved wool and mohair production and for enhancement of the protection and sustainable management of the Sehlabathebe National Park ( Lesotho side of the Maloti Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site)

- Through collaboration between the SGP Team and National University of Lesotho, a mentorship session was held for 3 grantees in Qacha's Nek including SGA, for planning, reporting and development of annual work-plans for smooth implementation and monitoring of projects. During the same session roles and responsibilities of the grantee and SGP as contained in the MOA were explained and MOAs in the local language distributed to all participants thereby empowering them to interpret the agreements to their respective grantee membership and also to enhance project management skills and compliance. Two (2) officers from the District Coordination Office for Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation participated throughout the session and also attended the grant award and MOA signature ceremony with the result that their understanding of the SGP approach was further strengthened.

- Peer-to-peer learning and networking among grantees in the Qacha's Nek has been strengthened thereby increasing the mass of advocates by 1620 (SGA membership: 500 men and 650 women) for environmental sustainability and empowerment of mountain communities to engage meaningfully in nature conservation particularly in the buffer zone of the MDP.

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