BY NOMTHANDAZO MAYISELA (INTERN)
LUBOMBO – Communities living near some of Eswatini’s protected areas are continuing to benefit from a conservation initiative worth about E98.5 million, which has helped protect biodiversity while creating livelihood opportunities through tourism and environmental management.
The initiative came into focus during a recent learning visit by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Henrik Franklin and Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) Chief Executive Officer Thulani Methula to protected areas supported under the Strengthening the National Protected Areas System (SNPAS) Project.
According to information shared on the UNDP Eswatini Facebook page, the delegation visited Shewula Community Nature Reserve, Mbuluzi Game Reserve and Mlawula Nature Reserve to assess the long-term impact of the project and reflect on how communities continue to benefit from conservation-focused investments.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to the tune of about E98.5 million (USD6 million), the six-year initiative was implemented between 2015 and 2021 through ENTC with technical support and oversight from UNDP. The project aimed to strengthen Eswatini’s conservation systems and improve the management of biodiversity and landscapes.
The initiative helped increase Eswatini’s protected area coverage from 3.9 percent to 5.5 percent, while also securing nearly 20 000 hectares of private and communal land for conservation through Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
Beyond protecting wildlife and natural ecosystems, the project supported community-based ecotourism infrastructure, invasive species management and improved conservation technologies. These interventions have contributed to local livelihoods while promoting environmental sustainability.
The visit also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and evaluate the sustainability of the project’s achievements.
As Eswatini continues to face environmental and climate-related challenges, partnerships between communities, government and development partners are increasingly seen as key to protecting the country’s natural heritage for future generations.
#Environment #Conservation #UNDP #Eswatini
