1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND ISSUES RELATED TO THE CONSERVATION, UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF FOREST GENETIC RESOURCES

1.1. STATUS OF FOREST RESOURCES

Lesotho is a mountainous and one of the least forested countries in Africa. It has 542 km² of natural forests and 5 581 km² of shrubland, together totaling 20 percent of the country. Forest reserves cover 120 km², with a production area of 100 km². Forest plantations are estimated at 60 km², mainly established under donor-supported projects with a particular reference to the Woodlot Project supported by the United Kingdom. The communal plantations are generally poorly managed and are often degrading due to heavy grazing.

In Lesotho, the main role of the forest sector is not in traditional timber production but in the protection of soil and water resources. The country is predominantly grassland and the culture is heavily focused on cattle raising. In the mountainous and hilly areas, the heavy grazing has resulted in severe land erosion in many places. The remaining and new forest cover can provide protection against land degradation. Shrub and tree planting can also be used in land reclamation.

Wood from trees and shrubs are also an important source of energy, particularly in rural areas where crop residues and cowdung are burnt due to the lack of fuelwood.

According to FAO statistics, roundwood production in Lesotho was 728 000 m³ in 1996, all of which was used as fuelwood or charcoal. It is estimated that fuelwood consumption exceeds sustainable use levels. Afforestation is considered the only realistic means of attempting to meet future rural energy needs.

Almost all sawnwood and other industrial forest products are imported. Sawn lumber is used for supporting the roofs of most of the new houses. Poles are still used for new and re-roofed rondavels and in some auxiliary buildings.

There are no exports of forest products. According to the 1993 national trade statistics, the value of imported wood and wood articles was M73 600 000 (ECU 13.5 million)^[1] in 1993.

Forest resources can be categorized into five main groups according to patterns of ownership:

- indigenous trees and shrubs
- Government owned plantations
- private treelots
- trees in individual homesteads
- trees in the urban environment

1.2. INDIGENOUS TREES AND SHRUBS

The extent, density and composition of indigenous forest and shrubland was determined in the course of the 1981-82 National Rangeland Inventory. Due to poor archiving procedures, however, detailed records by locality were subsequently lost. An extended programme has been underway since 1990 under which the trees and shrubs present in each forest patch are identified and its location plotted on a 1:20 000 map (May, 1997).

Lesotho’s forest patches and woodlands have been, and continue to be, subject to many impacts. This makes it difficult to identify and evaluate their current status. Essentially, the forest patches and woodlands are of two basic types, but with a number of sub-types.

One main type comprises the mixed evergreen and deciduous forest patches of the Lowlands and Foothills. It is found below escarpments, in valleys and gullies and other similar localities, thereby providing partial protection from the fierce post-winter bushfires that used to ravage the country before overgrazing became rampant. It is reported that some of the species that occur in Lesotho are found in mountain forests as far as North Tanzania and beyond (May, 1997). The emergent trees of this first type generally grow to maximum heights of 12-20 meters. They commonly include Celtis africana (molutu), Olea europaea var. africana (mohloare), Kiggellaria africana (lekhasi), Pittosporum viridiflorum (phuku e nyenyane), with less commonly Ilex mitis (phukhu) and Scolopia mundii (qoqolosi) which are shade demanding in youth. The canopy trees, of which only a few species may reach 11 meters or so in Lesotho, commonly include Maytenus hetrophylla (sefea-maeba), M. acuminata, Halleria lucida (lebetsa), Euclea crispa var. crispa (mohlakola), Diospyros lyciodes, Buddleja salvifolia (lelothoane) and Grewia occidentalis (lesika). Due to cutting and browsing, these species are more often of shrub form. Old trees of the pioneer tree species Leucosidea sericea (cheche) may occur but are succeeded by those of the other species in closed canopy conditions.

The other main type is dominated by Leucosidea sericea which forms more or less homogeneous stands of trees and comparatively extensive scrubby areas in the lower mountain zone up to 2 500 meters or so, where it appears to be a dominant tree species. Depending on the degree of openness of the Leucosidea, its principal shrub associates may be Rhamnus prinoides (mofifi), Diospyros austro-africana (senokonoko), Rhus divaricata (kolitsana), R. dentata (lebelebele), Euclea coriacea (ralikokotoana), Buddleja salvifolia (below 2 200 meters or so), Buddleja loricata (lelora, above 2 200 meters or so), Artemesia afra (lengana) and Myrsine africana (moroka-pheleu) (May, 1994).

The total area dominated by the native trees is estimated at only 34 685 hectares according to National rangeland inventory data. The inventory’s two vegetation categories, Leucosidea and Rhus - dominated, were classified as shrubland types and in the final computation, the areas pervaded by the indigenous trees were incorporated into them.

It is noteworthy that the national average crown cover (i.e. the part of the plant directly above and below the ground) of Lucosidea sericea and of the various Rhus species amounted to 10.88 percent and 11.32 percent respectively of the total land area. While, total crown cover of all woody plants in these categories was 21.24 percent and 12.90 percent respectively, revealing the overall openness of woody growth in much of Lesotho.

Although the naturally occurring extent of forest and woodland is low, it remains a valuable resource to many rural people, providing fuel, wood for tools and house construction, medicines for both humans and livestock, sites for traditional ceremonies as well as browsing and shelter for livestock. Almost all of these areas are used extensively for grazing and firewood collection. Despite the existence of management schemes backed by regulatory measures, natural vegetation loss continues unabated. The rate of depletion however, has not been quantified.

1.3. GOVERNMENT OWNED PLANTATIONS

Much of the country’s existing woody biomass stock originates from planted trees by the Lesotho Woodlot Project between 1973 and 1987. Geographically, woodlots have a skewed distribution with the majority located in the Lowlands and Foothills. By district, over half of the area established and survived is in Leribe (30 percent) and Maseru (26 percent). In terms of species, Eucalyptus generally predominates in the North, pines in the drier South and cypress at higher elevations due to silvicultural reasons. The current distribution of woodlot by district is given in table 1. Although the gazetted woodlot area is 12 988 hectares, the actual stocked area is less than half this figure (6 131 hectares).

Out of 10 362 hectares of woodlot established until 1993, only 60 percent (6 131 hectares) are stocked at present (see table 1). Replanting of 4 231 hectares is required to re-establish the originally planted area. The currently stocked area of 6 131 hectares consists of 2 979 hectares of Eucalyptus, 2 784 hectares of Pinus and 371 hectares of other tree species. The quality of existing pine stands is superior to eucalyptus stands as well as other tree species. The stands require regular pruning and thinning. Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster show the best growth rates compared to Pinus halepensis. Although the latter has a good survival rate, it grows slowly. In most cases, Pinus species are suitable for erosion control but not particularly appropriate for wood production. The most performing Eucalyptus species has remained throughout to be Eucalyptus rubida.

The inventory also identifies the following management problems:

- inadequate management and control of the woodlot by the foresters due to lack of funds and other resources to carry out certain tending operations;

- poor access to most of the woodlot situated on plateaus due to deteriorated road conditions;

- meager harvesting and illegal felling resulting in declining quality and stocking of the woodlot;

- large losses of stocking and tree quality due to drought, fire and grazing by animals in small stands;

- decline in reforestation activities since the late 1980’s due to inadequate resources available for afforestation programmes (Runze, 1997)

Other problems that limit the range of species which can be grown and contribute to low survival and growth rates (even amongst well-adapted species) are harsh climatic conditions and infertile soils.

TABLE 1: DISTRIBUTION OF WOODLOT ACCORDING TO DISTRICTS IN LESOTHO

Source: Forestry division woodlot inventory 1995/1996

1.4. PRIVATE WOODLOT: INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY

No comprehensive survey of private tree planting or ownership has ever been conducted. Mainly, they consist of small groves or patches of grey poplar (Populus canescens) or silver wattle (Acacia dealbata) often planted in Dongas. These include areas compulsorily established under the Tree Planting Scheme of 1994-97, and from government paid planting for soil stabilization undertaken as part of wider conservation programmes dating from the same period. Although many of the community woodlots are not systematically managed, they have been able to regenerate themselves into well utilized resource bases. This is significant in view of the heavy grazing impact by livestock.

1.5. INDIVIDUALLY OWNED TREES IN HOMESTEADS

Individually owned trees in homesteads also constitute a valuable forest resource. The undisputed tenure of the homestead has provided individuals with security to plant trees for amenity, shade and fruit. Peach trees in particular are a ubiquitous feature of villages. Most homesteads have at least one trees. For example, a 1989 survey found that 86 percent of all rural households had one tree, 66 percent of which were fruit trees. Most of these (87 percent) were planted around the home.

1.6. TREES IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Almost all towns in Lesotho have quite a number of trees in their surroundings. These trees play an important role in improving the urban environment and the well being of urban dwellers. Among other things, they ensure a clean water supply for the city, protect the towns against strong winds, provide shade and a cooling effect in the hot climate and provide a habitat for urban wildlife. Unfortunately, there are no figures to indicate the extent of trees found in urban areas.