Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Lesotho has listed 63 mammal species as native, including various bats, monkeys, baboons, hyenas and aardvark [ ] 141 Developing mechanisms and measures to implement the Convention The initial stages of success can be traced from the point of ratification of the Convention in 1995 which confirmed commitment of Lesotho to sound environmental management, through the development of mecha- nisms and undertaking of measures that would facilitate reduction of loss of biodiversity at national level. The localization of Agenda 21 (1994) facilitated integration of environmental aspects into develop- mental initiatives, which necessitated a review of national policies, which included the National Environmental Policy for Lesotho of 1996, revised in 1998. The process culminated in the development of the National Biodi- versity Strategy and Action Plan as the means of implementation. The Environmental Act of 2008 was promulgated in order to incorporate a wide spectrum of stakeholders, includ- ing private sector, into integrating environmental considerations in their programmes. This established mile- stones of compliance through environ- mental impact assessment guidelines, regulations, and the introduction of a range of conservation strategies. A point of success in the process of implementation has been the estab- lishment, in 2003, of the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation, to disaggregate the more environmental- ly focused activities from the other- wise broad mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture, which also facilitated its re-orientation into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. At central government, a project or an intervention is introduced through workshops to ensure synergy and complementarities in government functions. It is at this stage that aspects of continuity and sustainability beyond project lifetime are considered. Comprehension and acceptance of the project at this level can be taken as a measure of success. The government has also taken measures to strengthen the capacity of indigenous and local communities and to enhance their involvement in decision-making processes, notably through assistance in the formation of interest groups such as traditional healers, initiators, herders and arti- sans associations. Sani Pass, Lesotho Lesotho T here has been discussion as to what would have been the natural vegetation of Lesotho, the vegetation of the country without having been altered by human actions and or livestock (the Indigenous Forests of Lesotho). To this end the vegetation of the country has commonly been referred to as predominantly natural grassland. e discussion of status, trends and threads would largely be centred on the three vegetation zones of Low and Rebelo, namely Highveld grassland, Afromontane grassland and Afroalpine grassland. Within these are also found patches of indigenous forest and plantation. While the zones are generally classified as grasslands, the Fourth National Report reclassifies this as 12 vegetation types. Michael Jansen on flickr