Maseru, Mar, 10 – The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, in partnership with Vodacom Lesotho and Earth Care Alliance, has launched an initiative to remove the invasive plant known as Sehalahala in Setibing Ts’ana Talana in a move aimed at restoring pasturelands and improving the livelihoods of herdsmen and local communities.
The initiative is aligned with government efforts to safeguard Lesotho’s environment while ensuring the wellbeing of herdsmen who depend on rangelands for livestock production.
Sehalahala is an invasive shrubby plant that is rapidly spreading across Lesotho’s highland rangelands, posing a serious threat to the environment and agricultural livelihoods. The plant suppresses indigenous grasses and medicinal plants, significantly reducing the available grazing land for sheep, goats and cattle.
As an invasive species, Sehalahala overwhelms native vegetation and reduces ecological diversity. It also consumes large amounts of water and destroys natural ground cover, leading to soil erosion and the formation of dongas. The plant further affects the quality of animal feed, making livestock more vulnerable to drought and negatively impacting the wool and mohair industry.
Speaking during the event, Maseru District Administrator, Mr Ts’epo Lethobane, emphasised the importance of protecting the environment for sustainable livestock production.
“The environment is very important and we must be committed to protecting it. For animals to produce sufficient milk, meat, wool and mohair, they must feed on healthy grasslands,” he said.
Mr Lethobane added that motivating herdsmen to care for the environment and improving their working conditions could significantly improve the livelihoods of people who depend on livestock…
RK/BM
