Environmental policy and administrative management

Establishment of Utloang Balisana Association in 2004 was as a result of a training organized for herders by the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation in 2004. It was during this training that a nearby Herders Association was visited to expose herders to what organized groups can achieve in terms of sustainable land management. The herders were motivated by the enthusiasm and passion with which host members carried out their land rehabilitation. The Association started off with only twelve members but now it has a membership of 21. It has strong support from the Ministries of Forestry and Land Reclamation through the District Coordination Office; and that of Local Government through the Office of the District Administrator and local Community Councils and Chiefs. The Association has a site legally allocated to them where they have initiated their land rehabilitation. It is because of their hard work that in a nationwide competition for herders/herd-boys organized by the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation, the Association won the first prize (trophy) in recognition of their contribution towards community development. Context Even though the Association has made some strides over the past four years by way of rehabilitating degraded land through tree planting and some grass re-seeding, significant livelihood benefits are yet to be realized. With escalating poverty, there is a concern that some members of the Association may opt to go to nearby towns to seek for employment thereby weakening the manpower required to carry out the environment and natural resources management work. With the ever increasing fuelwood needs in the village and poles for construction works, there is a potential of employment creation by engaging in tree seedling production for own use and sale; and producing enough to meet the needs of the community. Lately it is a norm for farmers to buy fodder in winter when is dry and bare. Production of fodder on the rehabilitated land all year round will not only improve the vegetative cover but will also generate income for the Association members with the result that they will be motivated to stay in their village and continue with the environmental protection work.

Lesotho