Introduction .. continued

Following the designation of TNP and Bokong Nature Reserve (1 972 ha), the designation of these two protected areas has more than doubled the extent of the national protected area system, to approximately 13 800 ha. This represents less than 0.5% of the country, and while this is significantly below the recommended portion of each state that should be designated in a national protected area system, it is obvious that the contribution made by TNP to the National Biodiversity Management Plan and Sustainable Mountain Development Programme of the National Environmental Policy of Lesotho must be considered significant.

Amongst the attributes, which contribute to the significance of the park as a protected area, are the following:

The park is good example of the Drakensberg-Maloti Subalpine Belt together with a narrow rim of the Alpine Belt, in which are found a range of unique alpine and subalpine biotic communities, characterized by high levels of endemism.

The ecosystem are relatively unspoiled (although they have been impacted by livestock grazing in the past, and to a very limited extent, by the physical development associated with the LHDA adit), but the condition of the natural communities is such that they will improved significantly under the management prescription proposed for the park.

The biodiversity resources include representative communities of the grasslands, heathlands and scrub forest of the subalpine Belt, together with limited grasslands of the Alpine Belt, which provide habitat for a range of high altitude fauna species occurring above 1 900m asl. There are the most extensive berg bamboo (thalacamus tessalatus) and Leucosidea in the country. Included in the faunal species present are grey rhebuck (Pelea capreolus), a southern African endemic, and a Drakensberg-Maloti Mountain endemic, the ice rat (Otomys sloggetii), together with a unique subalpine and alpine avifauna, which includes a range of raptor species.

The area contains a number of natural and physical features of outstanding value, such as the magnificent natural scenery, beautiful stream and rivers, and the high incidence of snowfalls in winter, which provide strongly contrasting vistas to those pertaining in summer.

The park contains the only formally designated wilderness zone within a protected area in Lesotho, and thus the only area where the public may enjoy wilderness area, including relatively large size (in comparison with other protected areas in Lesotho), has only been slightly modified by previous land uses, largely retains its natural character and influence, is without permanent habitation, and will provide outstanding opportunities for solitude, which can be enjoyed once the area has been reached, by simply, quiet, non-polluting and non-intrusive means of travel (i.e. non-motorized).

The area has strong historical and cultural association: it once formed a part of an exclusive grazing and hunting area reserved for the royal house; and it is still used for cultural uses such as circumcision ceremonies. In addition, it has once if the largest if not the largest berg bamboo communities in the country-a plant which apparently plays an important role in these ceremonies.

VISION FOR THE AREA

Overall vision

TNP as a legally designated, fully operation and sustainable protected area. Sustainable in this instance refers both to the conservation and maintenance of the natural environment, as well as to the financial sustainability of the proposed tourist-based infrastructure. Environmental sustainability refers to the proposed management system which has been designated for the long-term conservation of the biodiversity, water and scenic resources, and the natural environment, with provision for non-consumptive ecotourism use, together with extremely limited consumptive uses, at levels which are compatible in all respects with the capabilities of the natural environment. The costs for maintenance of the natural environment in a sustainable manner are likely to be a permanent charge to the national conservation budget, or Lesotho Highlands Water Project-generated funds. This would seem to be appropriate, since these are not commercial issues but issues in the realm of the public good, and therefore a valid charge to the national coffers.

Specific vision

The specific vision for TNP is as follows:
To develop and maintain a Category II (national Park, as defined by the World Conservation Union, and to manage it according to internationally accepted standards and guidelines, for conservation of the natural communities, water and scenic resources.
The park will in particular be managed to promote environmental education and interpretation opportunities as well tourism and ecotourism opportunities in the region, and provide facilities for the provision of such services to the public within the park.

Specific management objectives for TNP

The Management objectives for the park are as follows.

To maintain and/or re-instate the ecological processes which are considered to be the main determinants of ecosystem structure and function, and which may be controlled by managements actions, such as the hydrological cycle and fire.
a) Where these processes or regulatory mechanism have been disrupted and cannot be re-instated, management should attempt to simulate their effects.
b) Otherwise, management intervention in the system should be minimal. Limited to measures that are essential to achieve objectives.

To minimize the possibility of the accelerated extinction of individual species currently present in the park that result from direct human interventions or actions.

To maintain or re-establish viable population species that are indigenous to the park, with special management attention being given to endemic, rare or threatened species.

To protect the integrity and wild character of the natural environment and ensure that all development is undertaken in sympathy with it, in order to permit the park to fulfill “witness” or reference functions, for comparative research and environmental monitoring programmes.

To conserve the wilderness resources of the park, to preserve its natural condition and ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience, understanding and enjoyment of areas that have been largely undisturbed by human actions (vide IUCN 1994;

To protect geological, pale ontological, archaeological, historical and cultural sites and the wilderness resources of the park.

To encourage non-consumptive uses of the natural resources of the park, such as tourism, outdoor recreation or ecotourism opportunities, and low-key utilization of natural products, provided that these are at sustainable levels and do not jeopardize the attainment of objectives for conservation of natural processes, biodiversity conservation and protection of environmental quality.

To make contributions at national, regional and local levels to nature and environmental conservation programmes (including the National Programme for Sustainable Mountain Development, and the National Biodiversity Conservation Programme).

To promote tourism, ecotourism and opportunities for wilderness experience in the region, by capitalizing on the good quality access to road to the park, the outstanding scenic values of the park and its wilderness resources.

To create appropriate, sustainable and self-funding tourist infrastructure including a lodge and camp ground, to encourage public access to the park, with opportunities to appreciate its values.

To promote environmental education by offering an effective interpretive programme at the visitor centre.

To link TNP and Bokong Nature Reserve by encouraging designation of the surrounding communal lands as a biosphere Programme, to promote compatible, sustainable land use, conservation of the biodiversity resources and the development of community-based ecotourism facilities and opportunities.

To establish and maintain close ties with neighboring communities, and to promote their involvement in community-based ecotourism opportunities in the peripheries of the protected areas, to be provided and management by the Communities themselves.

To take into account the needs of the local people for the natural products and subsistence resource use at sustainable levels, including limited livestock grazing in the zone designated for this purpose; with the clear proviso that such uses will not adversely affect the other objectives of management. Otherwise, occupatory land uses which are not compatible with these management objectives such as livestock grazing in the remainder of the park, mining, quarrying or hunting will not be permitted within the park.

With the exception of the proposed biosphere reserve, which is still under discussion, the objective has the approval of the CCF.

PRINCIPAL THREATS

List of threats to the park

Various real or potential threats that may impact negatively on the realization of the vision and objectives for the area. These include the following:

The remoteness of the area, and in particular its remoteness from recognized tourist routes, which may discourage visitor use, and linkage of the park to package tours incorporating well known tourist destination such as the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg.

The harsh winter in Highlands, and fairly frequent snowfalls, whilst a definite draw card for tourists from South Africa, may in effect prove to be a limiting factor for optimal use of the area for the period June to October, when most snowfalls take place.

Land hunger in Lesotho, which may encourage encroachment into the park for occupatory uses.

The uncertain capacity of the park to improve the local economy with contributions from tourist visiting the park, and the possibility that local support for the park might diminish, or be lost, should concomitant economic benefits not materialize following designation of the park.

Uncertainties related to the capacity of the Government of Lesotho to provide sufficient founds for the financial, administrative and personnel costs of maintaining the park, after expire of the LHDA 604 contract; and

The related uncertainties on whether the programme will qualify for or obtain donor aid to supplement official funding.