Lobamba – The Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) has taken another step in strengthening the management and sustainability of protected areas within the Mbuluzi River Basin through a one-day implementation workshop held at King Sobhuza II Park.
The meeting brought together key conservation stakeholders to discuss progress under Component 3 of the Mbuluzi Ecosystem Restoration Project, which focuses on improving management effectiveness across the basin’s protected area network.
ENTC Chief Executive Officer Thulani Methula said the project, launched in late 2023 with a Global Environment Facility grant of about USD 3.9 million, covers the entire Mbuluzi River Basin — from the upper reaches in Malolotja and Nkhaba to Lomahasha, where the river exits the country.
Methula explained that a Protected Area Network (PAN) Strategy has already been developed and validated, marking a major milestone for the initiative. The next phase will involve putting the strategy into action through stakeholder partnerships, coordinated conservation activities, and mobilization of resources.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from Malolotja and Mlawula Nature Reserves, Hawane Dam Ramsar Site, Mgogodla Eco-Village, Mbuluzi Game Reserve, Shewula Trust and other local conservation partners. Discussions covered implementation budgets, stakeholder needs, and integrated management plans aimed at safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Mbuluzi River Basin.
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