Conservation

Only one area in Lesotho has been afforded National Park status under the 1975 National Parks Act. The Highlands Water Project, a major project to supply South Africa with water, has had a significant impact on Lesotho’s natural areas. The construction of access roads into previously inaccessible areas has changed land-use patterns, while the damming of rivers has affected Lesotho’s river systems negatively.

In common with many African countries, Lesotho has a number of environmental issues which include population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas resulting in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification.

Lesotho is party to a number of international agreements which include Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation and Ozone Layer Protection.