Bio-diversity

Human activities such as trash burning, littering, field burning, and fuel intense cooking and heating systems are leading to climate change, extinction of indigenous plants (animals and bird populations are already stressed or at unsustainable levels) and environmental degradation in general. For example the low or no cost options should be default building strategies. Orientation of a building and using trees to regulate temperatures within the building are not strategies people are aware of when they begin construction of their homes. Furthermore, the type of material used in building a home and the types of heating, cooking, and energy production used also have environmental not to mention health implications. The long term symptoms of this type of human activity as Lesotho develops are climate change, loss of indigenous biodiversity as well as continued financial and food insecurity. The main objective of the proposed project is to increase awareness of biological diversity issues, and demonstrate technologies and building strategies to mitigate climate change and environmental degradation in Lesotho. This will be achieved through: establishment a Green Day Center as a demonstration of an energy efficient building technology and environmental education facility; development of a sound environmental education curriculum to facilitate running of a good and sustainable environmental education programme; and creation of environmental awareness particularly on climate change and its mitigation and on biodiversity conservation with special focus on snakes.

Lesotho