4. Cost Effective Measures for Improvement of Data Collection and dissemination

Data pertaining to Lesotho’s forest products would captured more effectively and efficiently if first of all an improvement could be made in the manner in which data pertaining to the collection and dissemination of data dealing with forest resources could be improved. First of all, it makes a lot of sense to know the area under forests Lesotho has, To know how much in terms of area is meant for what and a detailed account of planting years for each compartment or woodlot be prepared.

If this format could be followed, it would be very easy to cross-check and validate the data coming in from the field because already a projection would have been made as to how much of what forest product would be expected for a given year.

Below is a diagram illustrating the most cost efficient and effective reporting system.

As it has been said earlier on that the present decentralisation approach makes the DFO’s directly responsible to the DAO’s, This means therefore that even the reports are submitted directly to his office.

The reports, which are submitted to the DAO, are actually a summary of all the activities carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture at the district. This makes it practically impossible for the specific data required by different departments to be captured. The recommendation is therefore, that a separate report which would have captured all the data required by the forestry Division be prepared by the districts and be submitted directly to the Forestry HQ.

Since it is not easy for the villagers/communities to submit reports to the Forestry Division neither monthly or annually. It is proposed that al the end of every year Foresters conduct a short study for a very small fee through questionnaires in order to establish quantitatively the forest products which would have been both utilised and sold out. These studies should then be submitted to the Forestry HQ.

The idea of a small fee is not feasible given the economical background and the support given to afforestation programmes by government. The second best option could be that it should be mandatory in the terms of reference for each Forestry Officer to conduct such a study in the area under his jurisdiction and submit it at the end of every year.

All the Data which would have been both collected by the Divisions’ personnel at the district and by other ministries, departments and organisations should be compiled and analysed by the Forestry Divisions’ Planning Section at HQ and then be readily available for consumption by all the relevant stakeholders including the international organisations as follows: