Very little is done in the rural areas towards enforcing conservation of Lesotho’s indigenous trees and forest patches, but traditional conservation practices still prevail and, in rural areas, often remain well respected. These are among practices introduced by King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation. This followed suggestions by missionaries in the 1830’s that indigenous trees be classified as “liremo”, meaning they had economic value, and their use should be controlled by the chiefs. Traditional laws of conservation enforce protection by regulating access to, and ownership of forest products, and also prescribing punishment to violators.
Chiefs allowed people to enter forest areas only for a single day just before winter, and only to collect dead wood. A special permit was required for the cutting of green wood or poles at any time. Even when granted formal access, they were accompanied by the chief’s “Shepherd of the woods”, who would ensure that the prescribed authority was not abused. “Liremo” still applies in those parts of the country where chiefs continue to strictly enforce conservation laws.
The measure of maboella or reserved ground is well known to Basotho, more especially males, because all boys in the rural areas grow up as herders of small and large livestock. The measure dates back to the late nineteenth century (1870), the period of colonial rule, and Colonel Griffith initiated this conservation measure as a necessary step, because there was plenty of land for the Basotho and no concern for exhaustion of the natural resources. The introduction of maboella was widely adopted by Basotho and became a completely accepted practice. Mainly, the measure was applied to land fallowed over a prescribed period and season in order to give time for grazing land to heal after heavy grazing or severe burning. During this recovery period, no animals may enter the reserved ground, before it is opened for communal grazing by the Chief, on advice from his rangers. Animals trespassing are impounded and owners penalised. The liremo and maboella measure and practices can both be considered conservation action regulating cutting and grazing/browsing of trees and forests.
Herdsmen also had customary regulations that no one should cut a walking stick from indigenous trees during the winter/spring seasons (Matsipa, 1998) when they have set for flowering and seeding (considered pregnant). Species like Olea europaea subsp africana, Kiggeleria africana, some Rhus spp. and indigenous bamboo (Thamnocalamus tesselatus) were conserved for their high quality sticks for herders because of their wood durability. The regulations ensured sustainability of the species concerned as resources.
The Lesotho indigenous tree and forest conservation practices and measures were respected for many years, and were formulated into the governing Lerotholi laws during the reign of Paramount Chief Lerotholi (1891-1905). It is only from 60 years ago that these laws are progressively being replaced by legislation. These laws are still practiced.
In situ conservation is employed to conserve threatened tree species in their original habitats, while at the same time conserving subsidiary species of no present economic importance (see appendices 2 and 3). Similar strategies are ideal for species like Leucosidea sericea, Olea europea subsp africana and Celtis africana, which are considered threatened by over-exploitation for firewood and multipurpose social timber. These species occur along the Orange River valley where they form a dominant upper storey. Leucosidea sericea occurs as a continuously dominant species in the broad Tsehlanyane forest valley in the North and this has been declared a Nature Reserve. In situ action is ideal for habitat rehabilitation as it will not only benefit the three target species, but will also give a chance to improve genetic diversity as the forest cover is improved.
Ex situ conservation is suitable for Ilex mitis and Protea caffra to protect these endangered tree species populations from extinction. In the case of Lesotho, seed should be collected by the available tree seed collection staff of the National tree seed Centre from current populations and be safely kept in the local and other gene banks outside the country for future use.
Tree improvement programme, drawn in 1990, concentrated on exotics and target species: Eucalyptus nitens, E. Rubida, Pinus radiata and Populus canaescens.
Currently, three areas of protected indigenous vegetation exist in Lesotho:
- Masitise Nature Reserve is located in the South of Lesotho near Quthing. Although it contains a wide range of indigenous trees, it also supports many exotics, such as Melia aziderach, Eucalyptus spp., Ulmus sp. and Populus X canescens.
- Sehlabathebe National Park was opened in 1970 and is situated on the southwest border with South Africa. This contains no forest as the climax vegetation in the area is grassland.
- Tsehlanayane Nature Reserve, located in the North of Lesotho, predominantly contains Leucosidea sericea.
Proposed protected areas also exist in Lesotho and one protected area of indigenous vegetation has already been surveyed and plans made for its conservation. This is Mount Moorosi Reserve to be set up under the UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) programme as part of IPAL (Integrated Project in Arid Land). Although a preliminary vegetation survey was conducted, this concentrated on determining the four most common plant species in plots. It is therefore not of sufficient detail to assess the value of the reserve or to monitor changes in the vegetation.
However, some areas that represent types of relatively undisturbed indigenous forest have been identified. One area, Ts’ehlanyane Forest, requires immediate action if it is to be conserved. Large portions of this forest are being cut for fuelwood for sale outside the area. This is a unique forest, being of a relatively large area and containing some very big specimens of Leucosidea sericea, the dominant tree. The Forestry Division is attempting to find ways to prevent further exploitation.
Several smaller areas of forest have been identified with interesting features:
- Ha Ntsibana, near Roma, supports a very small patch of diverse forest. Within, are some large examples of Buddleia salvifolia, Halleria lucida, Ilex mitis and Kiggelaria africana. There are large areas of the exotics, grey poplar (Populus X canescens) and wattle (Acacia dealbata) nearby. These are more accessible to villagers and have undoubtedly reduced fuelwood collection in the forest.
- Maghobela is a small area of forest in a small, steep sided valley. Within is a particularly large Olea europaea sp. africana. Although most of the trees and shrubs are common in other areas of indigenous forest, this area is scenically attractive with a small stream and shows little invasion of exotic trees and shrubs.
