Project Detail

Mokema Natural heritage conservation

The community is not aware of the importance of natural heritage and this leads to high destruction of the natural environment, cultural heritage and wildlife in the habitat; this happens at an alarming rate that the future generation will not be able to enjoy the availability of these resources.
Mokema is endowed with cultural heritage in the form of san rock art and wetlands that are important habitats for various bird species and other resources like grasses that are used for making handicrafts. However the rock art is being destroyed by livestock when \ scratching against the rocks and dust from trampling on the soil around the rocks. The art is further destroyed by people who splash the rocks with water to accentuate the san paintings causing the rock to peel off.
Wetlands by virtue of them being wet all year around are always greener and thus become the preferred areas for grazing especially during the dry season and for livestock watering. The Mokema wetland is surrounded by cropland. Therefore the wetland is threatened by siltation and contamination by run-off loaded with agro-chemicals; trampling by livestock; and, uncontrolled killing of birds that inhabit the wetland. The primary objective of the proposed project is to preserve the wetlands resources and cultural heritage of Mokena. Envisaged interventions include: fencing and paving the san rock art area and controlling access to the resource; implementing land rehabilitation and soil and water conservation activities in the wetland catchment; and documenting the bird species found in the wetland area and putting in place by-laws to control access to the wetland resources. Ecotourism activities will also be promoted.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Mokema Homestead Ecotourism Association

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Land Degradation
Land Degradation
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP5 - Y2 (Jul 12 – Jun 13)

Grant Amount:

US$ 36,686.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 213.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 27,768.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP5/Y2/CORE/LD/2012/21

Start Date:

11/2012

End Date:

12/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Awarding of trophies during the2014 Cow Festival

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Project Characteristics and Results

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Replication of project activities

Gender Focus

All sections of hte society will take part in the project

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

As overgrazing is a major challenge, herders/herdboys will be specifically targetted in the public awareness; wetland rehabilitation programmes and documentation of the biodiversity resources found in the project site.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Education workshops and public gatherings will be held for the community for discussions on the significance of preserving wetlands ? this will include herders, pupils, traditional herbalists, community leaders and opinion leaders. The interpretive materials such as banners, brochures, leaflets, flyers and pamphlets will be key tools used during the workshops, campaigns and public gatherings. Guided tours will also be provided for local and other schools.

Policy Influence

In line with national prioties of: promotion of sustainable and integrated land management that will reduce land degradation and support increased land use productivity that sustains economic development; and protection of attractions and development of tourism products to their full potential; as stipulated in the National Strategic Development Plan, the project was able, 13. with support from the Ministries of Tourism, environment and Culture (MTEC) and of Forestry and Land Reclamation (MFLR), to establish partnerships with the private sector e.g Econet Telecom Lesotho and public institutions like the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) to conserve and protect the natural and cultural heritage of Mokema and also initiate promotion of ecotourism in Mokema. Development of the Project site as a tourist attraction site is continuing and the LTDC has pledged to assist with capacity building in tour guiding.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Major threats to the wetland are cultivation and overgrazing within the catchment. rehabilitation of field contours will hold soil erosion in check thereby preserving the valuable cropland; planting of fruittrees and fodder on the contours for fruit production and suppledmentary feeding for livestock; and regeneration of wetland grasses for production of baskets and other handicrafts for sale.

Notable Community Participation

The grantee has forged a support network by establishing warm relationships with various sectors of the community including among others: TADI ? a local crime prevention body; local savings and credit association; small independent retailers; a local youth cooperative society; community youth leaders; primary school teachers; chief and his supporting committee, local community council; who are all going to take part in monitoring project implementation progress. Preliminary community meetings were organized during project conceptualization and planning stages and community?s inputs have been incorporated into the project proposal.

Policy Impact

The intervention is in line with national prioties of: promotion of sustainable and integrated land management that will reduce land degradation and support increased land use productivity that sustains economic development; and protection of attractions and development of tourism products to their full potential; as stipulated in the National Strategic Development Plan.

Project sustainability

Through partnerships developed with the MTEC, the MFLR and the LTDC further development of the attraction sites, further awareness raising, capacity development and conservation and sustainable use of the resources will be guaranteed. The LTDC has pledged to include the site in its toursim marketing programme while the MTEC through its Arts and Culture Department has promised to intervene inhandicrafts production training.

Capacity - Building Component

Training in soil and water conservation for the farmers and members of the grantee; preservation of the san rock art for posterity; documentation of the biodiversity resources found in the area empowering the community to venture into ecotourism; training of members of the grantee to become tour guides.

Project Results

With support from the Ministries of Tourism, Environment and Culture (MTEC) and of Forestry and Land Reclamation (MFLR), the grantee was able to establish partnerships with the private sector e.g Econet Telecom Lesotho and public institutions like the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) to promote conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage of Mokema; and also promote ecotourism.

There is a positive attitude towards the preserved heritage sites (wetlands and san rock art cave) as a result of community educational campaigns, workshops, targeted meetings that were held for the local community. Community by-laws have been formulated in this regard. Eleven (11) members of the CBO comprising youth (6 male and 5 female) received training in land reclamation, wetlands rehabilitation and nature conservation in general. Youth and herders appreciate biodiversity resources of Mokema wetlands and the importance of protecting wetlands as habitats for the resources.

LTDC has trained 4 women and 2 men in establishment of rural homestays and this is enterprise is just taking off. The wetland is now a zero grazing and zero bird hunting area hence populations and variety of birds found in the wetland have increased significantly. Through SGP support, the grantee comprising unemployed youth, have been empowered and capacitated to go out and forge partnerships and leverage new and additional resources to take their initiative forward.

Income generation opportunities have been opened up through cow festival where herders showcase their cattle circus skills, this annual event is a tribute to local herders for showing remarkable appreciation of conserved heritage sites.

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