The Watershed Project is a joint project implemented by the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation (MFLR), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Germany Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This project is being executed in the Mountain agro-ecological zone; specifically it is being piloted in 2 rural villages, Rapase and Ratsoleli, which are both found in the district of Qacha’s Nek.

Lesotho is divided into four main agro-ecological zones: The Lowlands, the Foothills, the Senqu Valley and the Mountains. Covering an area of 18 047 km2, the Mountains constitute the largest ecological area, are an important water source for the nation and form the main livestock grazing area of the country. As a consequence development and conservation of the natural resources in the mountain region are crucial to the country, especially because soil loss through erosion is currently estimated at about 13.2 tonnes per hectare, totaling 40 000 tonnes per annum.

Objectives:
The overall objective of the Watershed project is to improve the natural resources base and enhance the food security and livelihood of the rural population that depends on it. Through integrated watershed management in the two pilot areas, the project aims to strengthen capacity and facilitate the empowerment of communities and their elected representatives in integrates natural resource management to enhance food security and livelihood at the watershed and catchment level.

Outputs:
1. Improved crop and rangeland productivity; soil erosion and gully formation reduced; woodlot, tree cover, water management improved;
2. Increase the productivity of cropland and rangeland through improved natural resources management and watershed management;
3. Broaden the livelihoods outside farming using local natural resources;
4. Strengthening the capacity of local authorities in governance issues related to natural resource management, impact of HIV/AIDS, and improved service delivery;
5. Improve service delivery by local authorities to local level need and demands;
6. Enhance district staff (MFLR), trainers and local people capacity;
7. Increase the participation of local people’s participation in natural resource management decision making.
 

Achievements:
To start up the project two monitoring and evaluation studies were conducted which were a baseline study and a GIS study. These were to survey local producers about their annual crops under irrigation, survey households regarding their livelihood options, survey local authorities on their governance practices, and survey district MFLR staff, trainers, and local peoples to enhance their natural resource management. As well the GIS was done to build up capacity within the government and to use GIS technology as a monitoring tool, now and in the future.

To work toward achieving the seven outputs of the project, beginning in July 2007 to date, a number of significant workshops and activities have taken place. Communities have been given training on how to set up stone lines to manage agricultural plots and fruit saplings for fruit trees. Also, they have received training on how to plant and maintain their fruit trees in order to produce fruit. Workshops were also conducted for herders and training has been given to local youth groups as well as community members, on horticultural practices. As well, to broaden the livelihoods outside of farming practices the communities are being encouraged to use local natural resources. Thus, they have been engaged in beekeeping and natural herb workshops.

Contact:
Ms. Charu Bist
Charu.bist@undp.org