MALOTI-DRAKENSBERG TRANSFRONTIER TO BE LAUNCHED

 
Maseru, Aug 19 (LENA) - The Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project will be launched at the ceremony to be held at Pitso ground in the Mokhotlong district on Friday 22 August.

A press statement issued by the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project stipulates that the principal objective of the project is to conserve the globally significant biodiversity in the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains. The statement further says, another objective is to contribute to community development through income generation from nature-based tourism in the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains.

The Press statement  also states that the main objective of the ceremony is to give the project wide publicity and recognition, while it is also envisaged that it would encourage and promote active interest and participation by all
stakeholders, particularly the  media. According to the statement, it is expected that the ceremony would be
attended by, among others, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa, Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture, Ms. Lebohang Nts'inyi, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism from South Africa, Mr. Valli Moosa, Principal Chief of Mokhotlong, Chief Mathealira Seeiso and senior government officials.

The Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Project is a five-year Global Environment Facility (GEF) financed bilateral project between the government of Lesotho and South Africa, with the World Bank acting as the  implementing agency. In Lesotho, the project is housed within the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Culture, while Kwazulu Natal Wildlife serves as the lead agency in South Africa.  

21 August 2003