Lesotho National Environmental Policy

1. PREAMBLE

Lesotho showed its commitment to the process of sound environmental planning in 1989 with the formulation of a National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP). The NEAP document provides for increased awareness of environmental concerns in sectoral planning and programming. Subsequent to the NEAP, the National Action Plan (NAP) to implement Agenda 21 was launched in May 1994. The NAP will build on the foundations of the NEAP and will incorporate sectoral priorities and national plans for implementing international conventions on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification Control.

In each of the above endeavours, there was recognition of the imperative for the Government of Lesotho to set up a national body responsible for overall coordination of environmental matters nationwide, and to put in place an enabling legal framework to facilitate this coordination to address environmental challenges.

Principal among the challenges identified are accelerated soil erosion resulting in land degradation, loss of arable land and eventual desertification; periodic prolonged drought and scarcity of water for agriculture, human and livestock consumption; increasing urban and rural poverty; pollution of land and water courses; low level of environmental awareness among policy and decision makers, and the general public; low level of institutional capacity to deal with environmental problems; lack of public participation in project identification, design and implementation; some legal impediments in the way of women's social and economic progress; and absence of environmental policy and enabling legal mechanism to embark on sustainable development programmes.

Bearing in mind that environmental problems are products of the impacts of many uncoordinated human activities and natural processes, their mitigation and solution therefore call for coordinated programmes and activities by the different sectors of government and society. This further calls for an enabling policy to make it easier for both Government and public to integrate environmental considerations in their development activities. The policy presented here is a response to the environmental challenges outlined above.

The mandate on environment is derived from the constitution of Lesotho, Section 36 which states:

Lesotho shall adopt policies designed to protect and enhance the natural and cultural environment of Lesotho for the benefit of both present and future generations and shall endeavour to assure all citizens a sound and safe environment adequate for their health and well-being.

The Government of Lesotho endorses and adheres to internationally accepted principles of the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and the 1992 Rio Declaration as adopted by the United Nations Conferences. It is also signatory to the following international environmental conventions: Convention on the Protection of Fauna and Flora; Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas; Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity, and Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. Lesotho will continue to accede to other relevant internationally acceptable protocols.

The Government of Lesotho further endorses and adheres to regionally accepted principles contained in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Policy and Strategy for Environment and Sustainable Development, and the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), and other similar programmes.

The National Environment Policy does not in anyway usurp the powers of sectoral ministries, but instead reinforces them and focuses on areas of high environmental priority for the Kingdom of Lesotho. The National Environment Secretariat, responsible for environmental affairs, will play a facilitating, coordinating, enforcement and advisory role in ensuring its implementation.

The objectives of the National Environment policy address a broad range of environmental problems facing Lesotho today. These problems and their relative significance are likely to change overtime which will necessitate a revision of the policy periodically.

CONTENTS

1. Preamble
2. National Environmental Policy: 2.1 Policy goal; 2.2 The policy
3. National Development Priorities: 3.1 Social and Economic Dimensions; 3.2 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources; 3.3 Getting People Involved
4. Basic Principles and Strategies for Implementation of the National Environment Policy
Social and Economic Dimensions: 4.1 Combating Poverty; 4.2 Managing Demographic Dynamics for Sustainability; 4.3 Protecting and Promoting Human Health; 4.4 The Working Environment; 4.5 Promoting Sustainable Development of Human Settlements; 4.6 Integrating Environment and Development into Decision-making
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources: 4.7 Intergrated Approach to Planning and Management of Land; 4.8 Agriculture and Food Security; 4.9 Promotion of Sustainable Rangeland and Mountain Development; 4.10 Conservation of Biological Diversity; 4.11 Preventing Climate Change; 4.12 Combating Desertification and Drought; 4.13 Energy Resources; 4.14 Strengthening Afforestation and Revegetation; 4.15 Water Resources Management; 4.16 National Parks, Greenbelts, and Historical Monuments and Relics; 4.17 Toxic and Hazardous Substances; 4.18 Sanitation and Waste Management; 4.19 Air Pollution; 4.20 Noise Pollution
Getting People Involved: 4.21 Industry and Mining; 4.22 Environmental Impact Assessment, Audits and Monitoring; 4.23 Gender Issues; 4.24 Science and Technology (Research & Development); 4.25 NGOs and the Business Sector; 4.26 Environmental Education and Public Awareness; 4.27 Public Participation
5.0 Institutional Arrangements
6.0 Legal Arrangements
7.0 International Environment Conventions and Obligations
8.0 Monitoring and Evaluation

2.0 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

2.1 Policy Goal

The overall goal of the national policy on environment is to achieve sustainable livelihoods and development for Lesotho.

2.2 The Policy

To secure for all Basotho a high quality of environment to enhance their health and well-being.
To raise public awareness and promote understanding of essential causal linkages between development and environment, and to ensure that environmental awareness is treated as an integral part of education at all levels.
To use and conserve the environment and natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations, taking into account the rate of population growth and productivity of the available resources.
To conserve the Basotho cultural heritage and utilise it for the benefit of the present and future generations.
To encourage and facilitate individual, NGO, community, religious organizations, and business community participation in environmental management.
To halt environmental degradation, and to restore, maintain and enhance the ecosystems and ecological processes essential for the functioning of the biosphere and to preserve biological diversity.
To implement the principle of optimum sustainable yield in the use of natural resources and ecosystems.
To foster community management and revenue sharing from sustainable utilization of natural resources on customary and public land.
To put in place comprehensive environmental regulatory measures to stimulate sustainable economic and social development. Such development will be complemented by social and economic incentives to influence positive behavior towards environment.
To set up comprehensive programmes of resource inventorying and accounting, complemented by regular and accurate environmental assessment, monitoring, and dissemination of information to all sectors of society.
To ensure that the true and total costs of environmental use and abuse are borne by the user, i.e. the "polluter pays" principle.
To enact and implement a land tenure policy which enhances sustainable natural resource management.
To empower women to play a key role in natural resource use and management activities.
To cooperate in good faith with other countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region, in Africa, and with international organizations and agencies to achieve optimal use of transboundary shared natural resources and effective prevention or abatement of transboundary environmental impacts.

3. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES

This Environmental Policy relates directly to Lesotho's national development priorities. It will focus on the social and economic dimensions, the management and conservation of natural resources, and the promotion of community participation.

3.1 Social and Economic Dimensions

Prerequisites for sustainable development include a commitment to transitional programmes of sound economic policies and management, effective and predictable public administration, democratic governance, and the integration of environmental considerations within the decision making processes. The following are priority programme areas of social and economic dimensions. combating poverty;

managing demographic dynamics for sustainability;

protecting and promoting human health;

the working environment;

promoting sustainable development of human settlements; and

integrating environment and development into decision making.

3.2 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

Development initiatives under this section will focus on the following programme areas:

integrated approach to planning and management of land resources;

agriculture and food security;

promotion of sustainable rangeland and mountain development;

conservation of biological diversity;

preventing climate change;

combating drought and desertification;

energy resources;

strengthening afforestation and revegetation;

water resources management;

national parks, greenbelts, historical monuments and relics;

toxic and hazardous substances;

sanitation and waste management;

air pollution;

noise pollution;

industry and mining; and

environmental impact assessment, audits and monitoring.

3.3 Getting People Involved

Participation will be promoted through activities in the following programme areas:

gender issues;

NGOs and the business sector;

development of science and technology;

public participation in decision making and programme implementation processes;

environmental education and public awareness.

4. BASIC PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POLICY

The implementation of the National Environmental Policy depends on clearly planned actions directed towards major sectors and problem areas of the environment. To be effective, this policy is based on the understanding that environmental issues are products of many interrelated and interlocking factors which require holistic and systemic views and actions.

Basic principles and strategies for implementation discussed in this section have been categorized as Social and Economic Dimensions (4.1 - 4.6), Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (4.7 - 4.22), and Getting People Involved (4.23 - 4.27).

The actions envisaged will establish and/or strengthen legal, institutional, regulatory, research, monitoring, evaluation, public information and outreach, and other relevant mechanisms for ensuring the realization of specific goals, targets and objectives of the policy.

Social and Economic Dimensions

4.1 Combating Poverty

Objective

The achievement of sustainable development through an integrated programme of human resource development and poverty reduction, with special attention to women and children, rural areas and the urban poor.

Guiding principles

Poverty is both a cause and consequence of environmental degradation, and its reduction and eventual elimination therefore is critical to natural resource conservation, protection, enhancement and sustainable utilization.
The health or state of the environment will depend on, and be guided and protected by the health, education and well-being of the Basotho.

Strategies

Accelerate efforts to create non-farm employment opportunities; encourage diversification of crop-farming; improve formal marketing and credit facilities, especially for women and the poor.
Repeal all laws that discriminate against women, such as the Land Act 1979, Deeds Registry Act 1967, etc.
Expand employment opportunities through a liberal economic environment for business sector entrepreuneurships and initiatives.
Promote local investment opportunities and an entrepreneurial culture through training workshops, training in business management skills and by providing appropriate skills.
Promote labour-intensive production systems, as and when necessary.
Rehabilitate degraded resources to promote sustainable use of resources for basic human needs.
Develop appropriate price and marketing services, particularly for farm produce.

4.2 Managing Demographic Dynamics for Sustainability

Objective

Implementation of the National Population Policy (NPP), to bring down population growth and integrating environmental considerations in population activities.

Guiding principles

It is known that improved health education and living standards, especially of women, show both reduced infant mortality and birthrates.
Each individual and couple have a right to decide on the number of children they wish to have, but it is advisable to encourage child spacing and to ensure their capability to bring children up properly, bearing in mind their economic conditions.
The annual growth of the population of Lesotho should be on decline relative to annual growth of the national economy.
Population education in schools and colleges will make a major contribution to the implementation of the national population programme.
Achieving the objectives of population policy depends on changing negative traditional attitudes and practices as they impinge directly on the current disadvantaged status of women in Lesotho.
Making contraceptives available at affordable prices reduces pregnancies and AIDS incidences.
It is essential that responsibility for coordinating and harmonizing population policy and programmes be entrusted to a highly-powered public body.

Strategies

Implement family planning strategies covering the whole nation.
Carry out information, education and communication programmes using a combination of personal, print and electronic media approaches.
Support women's programmes for skills training and population education.
Carry out nation-wide population education in the formal and non-formal educational systems at all levels.
Develop programmes to reduce elderly dependence on large family sizes through institutions of secure old-age pensions, transfer payments and other effective financial instruments.

4.3 Protecting and Promoting Human Health

Objective

To meet primary health care needs by the year 2,000, particularly those of the rural population.

Guiding principles

Putting in place facilities to ensure prevention and control of communicable and preventable children's diseases.
Since most diseases can be prevented by improved water sanitation, nutrition and primary health care, implementation strategies will focus on providing these services in which communities will play an active role.

Strategies

Control communicable diseases by, inter alia, spreading and maintaining immunizations especially of children, including in rural areas.
Protect vulnerable groups, especially women and children, against malnutrition, unsafe birth control methods, and communicable diseases.
Establish and enforce set health and hygiene standards in urban and rural areas and in work places.
Involve communities in all health-related improvement programmes.
Disseminate information throughout the country on matters concerning protection and promotion of human health.
Train teams of paramedical workers to ensure implementation of health programmes throughout the country.
Educate communities on epidemiology and control of common diseases.
Raise people's awareness about toxic substances and air pollutants.

4.4 The Working Environment

Objective

To ensure that environmental factors in the workplace conform generally to accepted standards to enhance optimal productivity as well as protection of the health and safety of the worker.

Guidelines

Appropriate regulations and standards that guarantee protection against hazards that threaten the health and safety of workers within the working environment; raise environmental awareness among the workers.
Clean, healthy and comfortable working conditions contribute to increased productivity in the work place.

Strategies

Establish a set of national guidelines and health limits for all pollutants and health hazards, consistent with current international guidelines and with national capacity for monitoring and enforcement.
Monitor and update levels of various pollutants within the working environment consistent with nationally set, and within internationally set limits, for human health and well-being.
Specify occupational safety and health codes of practice and guidelines based on the hazard levels of various industrial activities.
Establish an affective and efficient system for the reporting and monitoring of industrial accidents.
Specify and ensure the provision of emergency measures within the work place.
Provide guidelines for periodic checks and monitoring of the effectiveness of emergency evacuation measures.
Establish minimum standards of aesthetics in the immediate surroundings and within factories and offices.
Develop the capacities of all relevant ministries and agencies to effectively enforce all statutory environmental laws and regulations.

4.5 Promoting Sustainable Development of Human Settlements

Objective

Fostering the design and building of eco-friendly and people-centred human settlements.

Guiding Principles

Human settlements planning should incorporate environmental and economic concerns.
Urban and rural planning and development activities should incorporate environmental, as well as social and cultural concerns.
Communities should play a major role in designing their own settlements.

Strategies

Decentralize social and commercial services so as to ensure their distribution over a wider area in order to reach more people.
Promote sustainable small-scale urban agriculture so as to alleviate urban poverty and malnutrition, but also as an environmental conservation strategy through greening of the environment.
Promote sustainable energy and transport systems.
Promote integrated provision of environmental infrastructure such as water, sanitation, drainage and solid waste management.
Design human settlements which promote sustainable construction industry activities, using locally available materials.
Prepare simplified physical planning guidelines to facilitate settlement development in smaller centres and villages.
Encourage environmentally efficient settlements by developing one or more pilot communities which demonstrate the advantages and practical application of environmentally friendly technologies.
Develop urban planning practices to achieve and maintain a healthful, pleasant environment for households through the tested methods of separating industrial and residential areas through zoning, provision of buffer strips and green areas.
Develop physical planning guidelines for residential development incorporating standards for such items as housing density, road infrastructure, and minimum areas of public open space.

4.6 Integrating Environment and Development into Decision-making

Objective

To ensure that environmental considerations are incorporated at every level of decision-making during formulation, design, implementation and management of development programmes and projects.

Guiding Principles

Every development action impacts on the environment either positively or negatively.
Environmental problems are usually multidimensional, multi-disciplinary and intersectoral.
Policy makers and decision makers must be aware of the effects of development activities on the environment in order to ensure that their policy decisions and actions consider the environment.

Strategies

Develop and implement an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) policy.
Environmental Units (EUs) will be set up within the Planning Division of each Ministry to ensure the integration of environment and development. These EUs will:
- identify environmental problems posed by Ministry sponsored projects;
- ensure that remedial actions are taken;
- prepare plans and supervising EIA for Ministry projects;
- liaise with LEPA for the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS);
- advise communities on particular aspects of environmental concerns;
- monitor post-EIA audits of projects;
- participate in resource accounting and the preparation of the annual state of environment reports.
Hold training workshops on a wide range of subjects for various interest groups.
Provide support for post-graduate courses in environmental management at the National University of Lesotho.

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

4.7 Integrated Approach to Planning and Management of Land

Objective

Formulation of a land conservation policy to facilitate the allocation of land to the uses that result in the greatest sustainable benefits, and to promote transition to a sustainable and integrated management of land resources.

Guiding Principles

Different soil types are suitable for different development activities.
Land use plans should, inter alia, be based on land types.
Having a stake in the land will ensure that the farmers will manage it in a sustainable manner.
Developing sector master plans for all major social and economic sectors will enhance integrated and sustainable utilization of land resources.

Strategies

Develop and implement an integrated land-use policy based on a thorough scientific soil classification.
Rehabilitate degraded lands through application of appropriate technologies such as gabbion and small dam construction, grassing, tree planting, terracing and contouring, trenching, etc.
Adopt planning and management systems that facilitate the integration of environmental components such as water, forests, mountains and other natural resources.
Strengthen management systems for land and natural resources by including traditional and indigenous methods, where appropriate.
Establish land-use and physical planning framework within which specialized and more detailed sectoral plans can be developed.
Develop policies that encourage compatible, mutually reinforcing land-use and management of land resources, taking demographic issues and local interests into account.
Enhance quality of land management through reform of land tenure procedures and provision of easily available agricultural facilities.
Prevent land degradation from soil erosion by controlling surface water run-off from adjacent development.

4.8 Agriculture and Food Security

Objective

Improvement of land-use and management practices for increased and sustainable agricultural production.

Guiding principles

Food security underpins good health and better land management practices.
Good land management practices are predicated on good land tenure policies which reward the farmer.
Energy policies and practices should aim to increase vegetation cover and thus protect the soil.

Strategies

Ensure and enhance people's participation and promote human resource development for sustainable agriculture.
Encourage land conservation and rehabilitation programmes.
Promote conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources for food and sustainable agriculture.
Encourage integrated pest management, organic farming and permaculture.
Promote new and renewable sources of energy, e.g. solar, biogas, wind, etc. in order to facilitate the regeneration of the resource base by reducing its exploitation.
Conserve water for sustainable food production and rural development.

4.9 Promotion of Sustainable Rangeland and Mountain Development

Objective

Promotion of proper management of the rangeland and mountain ecosystems and resources for sustainable and environmentally friendly economic development.

Guiding principles

Mountains are high energy areas and therefore are unstable and fragile. They require careful management.
Mountain areas contain rare and sometimes endemic fauna and flora which are vulnerable and thus need protection.
Regeneration of mountain vegetation is slow and requires careful management and long-term planning.
Mountain areas are sources of water; they need to be covered with vegetation.

Strategies

Promote low-cost, simple, and easy-to-use erosion control rangeland management methods.
Identify and protect mountain areas most vulnerable to erosion, floods, landslides, snow avalanches and other natural hazards, and develop early warning and disaster response systems.
Create centres of information on rangeland and mountain ecosystems targeted at the public and communities interacting with and living in these ecosystems.
Create protected areas to conserve wildlife, rare and endemic genetic material.
Ensure sustainable management of highland lands and resources through catchment planning and management programmes, incorporating the regulation of livestock densities, land cultivation and human settlements.
Find a culturally sensitive way to control livestock grazing so as to protect the remaining vegetative cover and encourage new cover to grow, thereby preventing serious soil losses, floods, damage to roads and water channels and the like.

4.10 Conservation of Biological Diversity

Objective

Formulation and implementation of a National Biodiversity Management Programme in response to the International Convention on Biological Diversity.

Guiding principles

Biodiversity has intrinsic values and is vital for agriculture, medicine, scientific research, cultural practices, tourism, and other socio-economic developments.
By involving the people who live close to and use biological resources, conservation of biological diversity becomes a sustainable enterprise.
Well packaged and targeted information on biodiversity is critical to raising public awareness and hence participation in programmes which protect and conserve biological diversity.

Strategies

Prepare a National Biodiversity Management Plan to conserve biodiversity resources and protect fragile ecosystems inhabited by threatened and endangered species.
Promote national efforts with respect to studies, surveys, data collection, sampling, evaluation and maintenance of genetic resources.
Delineate IUCN conservation areas.
Strengthening the national centre for the exchange and conservation of biological diversity.

4.11 Preventing Climate Change

Objective

Promotion of development practices which do not contribute significantly to climate change, atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gases.

Guiding principles

Ensuring that, irrespective of the size of Lesotho, everything is done to reduce to minimum those activities which contribute to climate change.
Environmental degradation contributes to climate change.

Strategies

Establish a National Climate Committee to monitor the effects of climate on activities related to food production, water resources development, afforestation programmes, rangelands protection, energy, construction and others; and in turn monitor how these activities affect climate.
Publish and disseminate information on emission control and adaptation to climate change.
Draw up contingency plans for the impact of climate change on water resources, agriculture and other economic development activities.
Promote sound management and conservation of such greenhouse gas sinks as plants, forest and water bodies.
Strengthen the National Meteorological (weather and climate) Service.

4.12 Combating Desertification and Drought

Objective

To establish an effective National Desertification and Drought Control Programme.

Guiding principles

Desertification is caused primarily by human activities and only humans can stop it.
To fight desertification requires concerted and sustained efforts of all sectors of society over a long period of time.

Strategies

Prepare a comprehensive National Plan for combating drought and desertification.
Develop anti-desertification measures to be integrated within the plan.
Develop early warning systems to enhance preparedness.
Promote public awareness of, and participation in desertification control programmes and management of effects of drought.

4.13 Energy Resources

Objective

Provision of efficient, environmentally friendly energy usage strategy.

Guiding principles

Focus on developing renewable energy sources for both rural and urban areas.
Rural electrification will arrest the rate of deforestation in the country and improve the quality of life in the rural areas.

Strategies

Implement the National Energy Master Plan.
Accelerate afforestation programmes countrywide for energy purposes and discourage combustion of crop residues and animal dung.
Formulate energy efficient building regulations and encourage energy conservation in buildings, especially in the use of solar energy.
Promote the use of energy efficient stoves for the rural householder.
Encourage the use of public transport, bicycles, and efficient traffic management system.
Develop manpower in energy related subjects and increase research on efficient and environmentally sound energy sources.
Encourage use of photovoltaic installations in rural areas so as to provide crucial night-time lighting (vital for school children), radios and, in some cases, even televisions and videos.

4.14 Strengthening Afforestation and Revegetation

Objective

To implement a National Forestry Plan, promote national afforestation programmes and conservation of all forests and woodlands, and rehabilitate all degraded areas.

Guiding principles

Deforestation is an important contributing factor to soil erosion, river and dam siltation, loss of biodiversity and climate change.
The participation of local communities, NGOs and business sector in forestry is critical to afforestation activities, improved management, conservation and sustainable utilization of forest resources.
Provision of alternative income generating activities has been shown to reduce pressure on trees, shrubs and forest resources.

Strategies

Encourage individual and community afforestation programmes, by providing incentives and training to individuals and communities undertaking afforestation programmes on a self-help basis.
Train Village Development Councils in the management of local afforestation programmes.
Rehabilitate degraded lands using appropriate agroforestry practices and increase multi-use forest cover.
Review and rationalise forestry legislation.
Improve technical and professional training of forest workers at all levels.
Promote the use of forestry for erosion control and land rehabilitation.
Reduce the use of scarce timber and wood resources through the wide-scale distribution of solar-powered cookers and heaters.

4.15 Water Resources Management

Objective

To develop integrated and coordinated, effective and efficient approaches to conservation and use of limited water resources, and to promote its conservation and availability in sufficient quantity on long term sustainable basis.

Guiding principles

The involvement of stakeholders contributes to the efficiency, sustainability and success of water projects, as local stakeholders often have more detailed knowledge of the local areas which may not be available to the agencies implementing or financing the projects.
All people should have access to potable water in order to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and the time devoted by women and children to water collection.
The training of the public in water conservation habits and techniques has been shown to contribute to the judicious management of scarce water resources.
The sustainable development of small-scale irrigation schemes based on surface water resources via the construction of small dams and diversion of rivers is totally dependent on the improvement and stabilization of soil conservation and afforestation measures in the catchment areas serving these schemes.

Strategies

Promote the four guiding principles of rational utilisation, protection, conservation and management of water resources, based on community needs and priorities within the framework of economic development policy.
Encourage water harvesting strategies.
Implement the Water Master Plan and investment programmes based on interactive databases, forecasting models and environmental considerations.
Support drought and other risk preparedness programmes.
Promote research and conservation of shared water course systems and resources with neighbouring countries in the SADC region.
Develop and strengthen capacities of relevant agencies especially WASA in the use and re-use of water, and in quality and quantity management.
Promote research on, and the protection of, ground water resources.
Develop and enforce standards for water quality and pollution control.
Protect and rehabilitate fragile mountain ecosystems; and promote an integrated basin-wide planning approach.
Conduct nation-wide survey to develop riverine fisheries database.
Demonstrate the rehabilitation of a selection of silted reservoirs for fish production, and rehabilitate fish hatcheries for production of African catfish, common carp and rainbow trout and others but be cautious about potential impact of introduced species on native fish and biodiversity.

4.16 National Parks, Greenbelts, and Historical Monuments and Relics

Objectives

To ensure proper maintenance of, and care for, historical monuments and relics for the education and enjoyment of the present and future generations.
To rehabilitate, maintain and enhance biological diversity of natural parks, greenbelts and botanical gardens, especially in those areas where cultural monuments and relics are located.

Guiding Principles

Gaining knowledge of what exists in terms of natural resources is necessary to develop policies that will protect them. Through surveys and inventory-taking of the status of natural resources and cultural heritage of Lesotho can be assessed and monitored.
Managing historical monuments and relics needs well trained professionals and support staff.
Public awareness of the issues concerning the management and enjoyment of historical monuments and relics is a prequisite for the survival of this cultural heritage.
Tourism is the development sector in which economic returns are most directly dependent on the quality of the environment.

Strategies

Institute a programme to protect threatened species and to reintroduce into Lesotho those indigenous species now extinct in the Kingdom.
Ensure that all currently gazetted areas and sites are protected by wardens or guards.
Involve the local communities in the management of gazetted areas and ensure equity sharing with the concerned communities from tourism generated revenue.
Revise the Law (Proclamation No. 36 of 1969) protecting historical monuments and relics.
Implement training programmes for present and future wardens and rangers.
Initiate an educational programme to enhance public relations and raise public awareness. School curricula should contain important aspects of Lesotho cultural heritage.
Devise instruments for implementing existing legal regulations to ensure that the instruments are effective. This should include renewable use strategies of some plants for medicinal purposes, penalty charges for those who mismanage them and incentives for those who conserve these species.

4.17 Toxic and Hazardous Substances

Objective

Regulate the introduction, manufacture, import, sale, transportation, use, distribution and disposal of toxic, hazardous and radioactive substances in Lesotho.

Guiding Principle

The management of toxic and hazardous substances shall be guided by the Basel Convention on Hazardous Substances, the Montreal Protocol the Bamako Convention on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes, the London Guidelines for the Exchange of Information on Chemicals in International Trade, the FAO Code of Conduct, and the Prior Informed Consent scheme.

Strategies

Maintain an up to date register of toxic, hazardous and radioactive substances.
Design and set up a national framework and standards against transboundary movement of toxic, hazardous and radioactive wastes and/or the achievement of environmentally sound management of hazardous substances.
Control the generation of toxic, hazardous and radioactive wastes and ensure that those banned shall be stringently controlled.
Monitor the effects and control all phases of the life cycle of all substances likely to have an adverse impact on human health and environment.
Determine and use environmentally safe and technologically sound techniques for disposal of toxic, hazardous and radioactive substances.

4.18 Sanitation and Waste Management

Objective

To ensure that there are guidelines for the proper handling and disposal of wastes in order to reduce pollution and the spread of disease.

Guiding principles

Utilizing the most reliable and appropriate waste treatment systems for domestic, commercial and industrial wastes ensures sustainability of the systems.
Setting up and enforcing high standards for the disposal of human and other solid wastes in homes, offices, housing estates, and public facilities in both urban and rural areas will lead to reduced incidence of disease and mitigate against ground water contamination.

Strategies

Design environment friendly waste disposal and treatment systems that will take into consideration the geographical and environmental setting and encourage recycling.
Ensure that the location of disposal sites do not undermine the safety of surface and underground water systems.
Establish monitoring programmes of approved waste disposal sites, waste water treatment systems, industrial waste pretreatment plants and their surroundings.
Establish safety limits for the location of water wells, boreholes and dams in the vicinity of major sanitary landfill sites.
Regulation, registration and licensing of all major land-based waste sites and disposal systems.
Provide information on the appropriate methods and technologies for the treatment and disposal of waste.
Set up a mechanism for the identification and clean up of abandoned land-based hazardous waste dumps.
Put in place effective protective measures against discharge of particulate matter and untreated industrial effluents into rivers, wetlands, dams and other water bodies.
Establish water quality guidelines and standards for selected points along rivers or other water bodies; the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of treated effluents; public health criteria; a comprehensive monitoring programme incorporating an early warning system for down-stream users.
Encourage community and public recycling of bottles, cans and other recyclable containers through use of deposits, local recycling of collection points, and other financial incentives.

4.19 Air Pollution

Objective

To ensure that established ambient air quality standards are observed and improved.

Guiding principles

Improving air quality will result in reduced respiratory diseases among people.
Air quality will depend on the levels of energy fuels consumed and vegetation cover.

Strategies

Establish ambient air quality standards and monitoring stations at designated points.
Provide standards for factories, vehicles, and activities which emit pollutants into the atmosphere.
License and register all major industrial polluters and monitoring their compliance with laid down standards.
Provide guidelines for the abatement of air pollution.
Promote regional cooperation aimed at minimising the transboundary movement of pollutants across international borders.

4.20 Noise Pollution

Objective

Reduction of noise levels and control of noise pollution resulting in the creation and maintenance of comfortable and healthy environment.

Guiding principle

The human body is stressed by noise above normal thresholds, resulting in physical and psychological impairment.

Strategies

Establish guidelines for the control of neighbourhood noises, especially with respect to taxis and their horns, markets, construction sites, discos and meeting places.
Prescribe permissible noise levels in noise prone industries and construction sites, and to ensure the installation of noise dampers on noisy equipment and the wearing of ear muffs by the workers.
Provide guidelines for the control of aircraft noise by presenting acceptable or permissable noise levels within the vicinity of airports.
Establish quiet zones in game parks, recreational centres and other areas set aside for public use.
Ensure compliance with stipulated standards by conducting periodic audit checks.

4.21 Industry and Mining

Objective

To ensure that industrial and mining activities conform to sustained natural resource utilisation and protection of the environment.

Guiding Principles

Industrial and mining development need pollution control measures.
Safe waste disposal is key to environmental management in industrial and mining development.
A safe and healthy operating environment is essential for industrial and mining production.
Use of environmentally friendly and energy saving industrial and mining technologies enhance sustainable development.

Strategies

Adopt industrial and mining policies that are consistent with proper management of natural resources and the environment.
Develop plans for development/construction of industrial and mining sites that have adequate and appropriate waste disposal facilities.
Enact industrial and mining laws for prevention of environmental pollution and maintenance of ecological balance.
Encourage development of industries that are based on domestic raw materials and use of technology that is appropriate for the local environment.
Provide incentives to encourage the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies in industry and mining.

4.22 Environmental Impact Assessment, Audits and Monitoring

Objective

To develop a system and guidelines for environmental impact assessment (EIA), audits, monitoring, and evaluation so that adverse environmental impacts can be eliminated or mitigated and environmental benefits enhanced.

Guiding Principles

EIAs are deemed necessary to ensure that public and business sector development options are environmentally sound and sustainable and that any environmental consequences are recognised early and taken into account in project design.
EIAs will consider not only biophysical impacts but will also address environmental impacts in terms of existing social, economic, political and cultural conditions.
Environmental mitigation plans will be required for all activities where the EIA has determined a negative environmental threshold.
Environmental audits, including inspections, record keeping and monitoring will be required for activities as determined by the mitigation plans or otherwise.
Environmental Impact Assessments and Statements shall be made public and public comments on them invited and taken into consideration.
EIA procedures should be cost effective, appropriate, reasonable and commensurate with the size, scope and relative impacts of the project or programme in question.

Strategies

Develop guidelines and set standards for EIAs.
Notify, by Government Gazette, the types and sizes of projects for which EIA may be required.
Require that any person, private or public organisation, desiring to develop a project for which an environmental impact assessment may be required must submit a project brief.
Prescribe guidelines and regulations concerning the preparation of environmental impact statements, audits, monitoring and evaluation.
Review Environmental Impact Statements and take necessary actions to ensure that no projects proceed that may cause significant and irreparable damage to the environment.

Getting People Involved

4.23 Gender Issues

Objective

Ensuring the integration of gender, youth and children concerns in environmental planning at all levels.

Guiding principles

The role of gender in the sustainable use of renewable natural and other development programmes needs to be acknowledged and factored in all development plans.
Gender analysis methodologies and tools should be an integral of the basic training in environmental and natural resource management.
Training, research and programme implementation should incorporate gender issues.
Inculcating environmental awareness and concern about environment in children and youth will ensure a better future for Lesotho's environment.

Strategies

Review urgently all discriminatory laws against women such as the Deeds Registry Act, Labour Laws, etc, and propose appropriate remedial actions.
Strengthen the network of women's groups.
Promote education of men at all levels and in all sectors, including environmental management and bring about balance in education between men and women.
Ratify various international conventions, including the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies, and the UN Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.
Accord to all women equal rights and access to credit facilities, pensions, and security of employment.
Establish a Bureau of Gender Affairs to address gender issues throughout society, especially issues concerning international cooperation and peace; political participation; education and training; employment; health and nutrition; the family; housing; research; and the mass media.

4.24 Science and Technology (Research & Development)

Objective

To promote and expand science and technology education, research and development in order to provide a better understanding and solution of environmental problems and a sound basis for the formulation and assessment of policies and programmes.

Guiding principles

A national scientific research council is required to spearhead and coordinate efforts into conservation and sustainable use of Lesotho's limited natural resources.
Providing incentives to trained personnel in science and technology is one way of retaining them in service.

Strategies

Support scientific and technological research geared to improving resource management and conservation.
Improve and strengthen programmes for the dissemination of research findings through extension services.
Establish National Archives and a Museum.
Establish national data network for information sharing and to enhance effective decision making process.

4.25 NGOs and the Business Sector

Objective

To strengthen the role of NGOs as partners in development, including the role of the business sector and rural communities at all levels, from policy making to implementation, protection and conservation of the nation's natural resources.

Guiding principles

Conservation, protection and sustainable utilization of natural resources can be promoted if community participation, empowerment, and economic benefits from the management of natural resources are ensured.
Government has plans to gradually disengage from being an implementing agency to a regulatory and supervisory agency through environmentally sound economic policy and legislative framework. For this reason, greater demands will eventually be made on NGOs and the business sector in terms of development.

Strategies

Establish an outreach facility within the National Environment Secretariat to empower and develop capabilities of environmental and other relevant NGOs and community groups.
Disseminate through electronic and printed media targetted outreach information on issues of sound environmental management, conservation, restoration, sustainable resource utilization - in both Sesotho and English.
Establish an Environmental Ombudsman to hear complaints and to achieve a common purpose for all sectors of society in matters concerning environment.
Integrate NGOs and business in the policy-making process such as the Non-Governmental Environmental Advisory Committee.
Encourage and strengthen professional bodies, trade unions and farming associations through environment awareness raising programmes.

4.26 Environmental Education and Public Awareness

Objectives

To impart knowledge and skills, both indigenous and non-indigenous, of how to manage environment in sustainable ways.
To increase public awareness and understanding of the imperative of sustainable economic growth through sustained environmental protection, conservation and management.

Guiding Principles

Integration of environmental dimensions into formal educational programmes at all levels raises environmental awareness and concern across a wide spectrum of society.
Improved environmental protection requires political will, public support and understanding of its significance.
Environmental education awareness shall be promoted through formal and non-formal education channels by all government departments, NGOs, and the business sector.
Environmental education and public awareness programmes will be targeted to all private and public sectors, and the general public, whose activities affect the environment in one way or another.

Strategies

Develop a national plan of action for carrying out environmental awareness through formal and non-formal education programmes.

Establish environmental training programmes for professionals and technicians to equip them with the necessary skills to protect and enhance the quality of the environment.

Research and utilize indigenous knowledge and skills in environmental management to the benefit of all.

Introduce environmental education in all formal and non-formal educational institutions, strengthen the National Curriculum Development Centre and Lesotho Distance Training Centre to coordinate the implementation of this programme.

Facilitate establishment of environmental education associations and clubs in schools, other educational institutions and the public at large.

Establish regular environmental programmes for the young, adult and professionals; and disseminate the information through electronic and print media, as well as through traditional methods of communication.

4.27 Public Participation

Objectives

To raise public awareness and promote understanding of the essential linkages between environment and development.
To encourage individual and community participation in improving their own lives and environment through development and other activities.

Guiding Principles

Public participation in their own development programmes will empower the people to be responsible for their own destiny and to have a sense of ownership of the development projects.
Taking care of natural resources should no longer be the responsibility of government only; but for sustainability to be assured, people should have a role in managing the natural resources and have a stake in them.

Strategies

Re-orient and train extension officers in all line ministries, as well influence all donor agencies and NGOs, to facilitate community participation in natural resource management and development programmes.
Return a significant portion of the benefits accruing from sustainable utilization of natural resources on public and customary lands, e.g. from tourism, to the local communities, whose collaboration is required to conserve the resources, for development activities, i.e. improved social services.
Empower local communities by participating in decision-making process through their elected representatives, and/or through pitsos.

5.0 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

Objective

The establishment of a national mechanism for the harmonious management of policy formulation and implementation, coordination and cooperation on all matters concerning environment and development.

Guiding principles

Environmental management needs an institution that has the legal authority to advocate for environmental protection, to ensure effective cross-sector coordination, to enforce compliance with environmental protection laws and to provide technical and information services.
The location of the institution responsible for environmental management within the Government structure is critical to its effectiveness and provisions must be made to ensure that it has the requisite authority.
The environmental management authority must be legally constituted as an autonomous or semi-autonomous body and derive its authority from the framework environmental law.
There should be close liaison between the environmental management institution and line ministries and ministries responsible for finance, local government, the NGO sector, the business sector and civil society.

Strategies

Establish the Lesotho Environment Protection Authority (LEPA).
To provide LEPA with the necessary resources and powers to facilitate implementation of the National Environment Policy through the following functions:
1. Serve as advisor to the Government of Lesotho on national environment policies and on priorities of scientific and technological activities affecting the environment;
2. Author plans for the development and management of the environment and on the financial requirements for the implementation of such plans;
3. Serve as coordinator of all sectoral activities that affect the environment including NGOs and private organizations;
4. Promote cooperation in environmental management with similar bodies in other countries and with international bodies concerned with the protection of the environment;
5. Collect and make available through publications and other appropriate means and in cooperation with public and private organizations, basic scientific data and other information pertaining to pollution, degradation and environmental protection matters;
6. Establish such environmental criteria, guidelines, specifications or standards for the protection of the land, air, water, health and welfare of the population from environmental degradation;
7. Establish guidelines and procedures for industrial and agricultural activities in order to minimize environmental damage from such activities;
8. Establish guidelines/controls for the extraction of natural mineral resources, including sand and gravel;
9. Develop, promote, coordinate and support environmental monitoring programmes, research efforts, basic data and other environmental related date as appropriate;
10. Implement procedures for EIA;
11. Support training and technical assistance to staff and other bodies, private or public, concerning implementation of EIA, environmental criteria guidelines and standards and enforcement of the regulations and standards;
12. Maintain public education and awareness programmes to enhance public understanding of environmental management issues such as management of litter, water conservation and materials recycling;
13. Develop and promote such processes, methods, devices and materials as may be useful in carrying out the purposes and functions of the Authority. Special attention should be paid to supporting women's organizations;
14. Enhance cooperation among all tiers of government in environmental protection, planning, monitoring and enforcement;
15. Enter into contracts with public or private organizations and individuals for the purposes of executing and fulfilling functions and responsibilities of the Authority;
16. Make grants to suitable authorities and bodies with similar functions for demonstration and for such other purposes as may be determined appropriate to further the purposes and functions of the Authority;
17. Establish advisory committees or bodies composed of persons with relevant experience in the field of environmental management; and
18. Receive grants, gifts, or other property upon such terms as will enhance the functions of the Secretariat.

The Lesotho Environment Protection Authority (LEPA) shall have a Governing Council consisting of the following members:

The Prime Minister who shall be chairman;
The Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Education, Finance and Planning, Local Government, Natural Resources, Trade and Industry;
Two members of Senate;
Two members of Parliament;
The Government Secretary;
The President of the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organisations.
The Chairman of the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
Two prominent citizens nominated by LEPA;
Secretary General LEPA (Secretary to Council; ex-officio.

There shall be a Technical Advisory Committee on Environment whose membership shall be as follows:

Heads of Department of the relevant Government Ministries;
One technically qualified representative from the business sector;
One representative from the University academic sector;
One technically qualified representative from the NGO sector;
One representative from the Lesotho Federation of Women Lawyers;
One representative from Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA);
One representative from Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA);
One representative from Lesotho National Development Corporation;
Two prominent environmentalists nominated by LEPA.

The existing elected District Development Councils shall be responsible for environmental matters at district level in line with the provisions of this policy.

6.0 LEGAL ARRANGEMENTS

Objective

To institute a framework environmental law for the implementation of the National Environment Policy.

Guiding principles

Promulgation of the framework law will enhance principles of sustainable development and take cognizance of the political, social, cultural and economic dimensions prevailing in the country.
A framework law provides space for formulating, reviewing and updating sectoral laws on environmental management, including incentives and punitive measures.
Regional and international cooperation through ratification and implementation of environmental conventions, agreements and treaties, as well as payment of financial contributions to the relevant international bodies are done efficiently within a national framework law.
Legalisation of the Lesotho Environment Protection Authority contributes to the efficient management of environmental affairs in the country.

Strategies

Consolidate, strengthen, provide and extend legislation for environmental protection and improvement in all spheres whilst also providing for effective implementation and enforcement procedures.
Promulgate a series of appropriate environmental protection laws.
Stipulate and disseminate widely procedures and regulations for implementing the National Environment Policy.
Establish, as a constitutional duty of the GovernmGovernment of Lesotho, intentions to safeguard the environment and aspire to have a healthy environment and a healthy nation.

7.0 INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT CONVENTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS

In order to ensure effective implementation of international treaties and conventions to which Lesotho has acceded and will accede in the future, national laws consistent with those treaties will be promulgated promptly. Legislative action will be taken to implement treaties and conventions already ratified by Lesotho.

Lesotho will continue to participate actively, regionally and internationally, in the development and codification of international environmental laws, instruments and guidelines, and facilitate their adoption and inclusion in national laws and procedures.

8.0 MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Periodic evaluation and monitoring of overall programmes and activities will be necessary in order to ensure that the provisions of this policy are successfully implemented. Such activities will include:

Regular State of the Environment Reports shall be issued by the Lesotho Environment Protection Authority.
There shall be case studies undertaken and implemented for purposes of evaluating various environmental problems and drawing lessons in form of guidelines for approaches, methodologies, and service management strategies. The conclusions drawn from the case studies will be disseminated widely to the relevant target groups and end-users.
The link between poverty and environment, and hence social justice and sustainable development, shall be monitored and evaluated to ensure that all sectors of society, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable groups - the poor, women, the old, children, and others - are involved in an integrated and all embracing manner in the implementation of the National Environmental Policy.
Regular audits of existing industries, major development projects of all types, such as new highways, irrigation schemes, sizeable urban subdivisions, and Lesotho Highlands Water Project shall be undertaken with the aim of ensuring that industries comply with this environmental policy and the corresponding environmental framework law.

Suggestions or comments. This page was last updated on 01 November 2001