Lobamba- A joint pilot initiative by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is showing promising results in restoring damaged ecosystems along the Lusushwana River, at Lobamba Lomdzala.
This transpired during a guided field tour attended by media practitioners and representatives from private companies, project teams showcased ongoing efforts to rehabilitate large sections of the river corridor that have long been overrun by invasive plant species and soil degradation.
With over 30 percent of the project completed, a standout feature of the project is the mobilisation of 20 young people from Lozitha and Lobamba, whose training and labour are driving much of the physical restoration work. Funded by CONCO Limited, these youth have been equipped to manually remove invasive plants, an approach required because herbicides cannot be used near water sources.
Project Manager Mandla Makhanya told visitors that the activities are part of a larger, long-term strategy to rebuild the natural systems that support communities and agriculture in the area.
He explained that the initiative goes beyond clearing land but, it aims to restore soil fertility, strengthen the natural flow and health of the river, and create more climate-resilient livelihoods for households that depend on the Lusushwana catchment.
” We are in the process of exploring products that can come out of these invasive plants,” he noted. Makhanya added that as the project continues they may produce by-products from the offcuts of the alien invasive plants.
Discussion about this post