Environmental Resource Monitoring and Conservation              <<..back

The Environmental & Social Services Group completed a number of resource conservation programs under Phase 1A  which included rescuing 149 plant species from inundation, establishing the Katse Botancial Gardens, presenting a status report on the Maluti Minnow, and undertaking biological resource monitoring to identify any long-term impacts of the LHWP on terrestrial and aquatic fauna and flora.

The 17 ha Katse Botanical Gardens were established in 1995 as an LHDA support to the genetic resource conservation initiatives as part of the Lesotho national strategy for conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of biological resources. The Gardens strive to promote enjoyment and a knowledge of the alpine flora of Lesotho through conservation, cultivation and propagation of the indigenous plants. The Gardens serve as an educational centre for local communities, students, scientists and the public. Visitors are always welcome.

Under Phase 1B, ESSG is undertaking extensive programs of work for habitat and species conservation, and resource assessment. As part of this, a recent study was completed to establish and monitor the instream flow requirements for river courses downstream of dams in the LHWP. Instream flow requirements (IFR) is a term used to refer to water that is purposefully left in a river ecosystem or released from an impoundment to maintain that ecosystem.

ESSG will also be undertaking long-term monitoring of vegetation, terrestrial fauna, wetlands, and aquatic species in the project area.