Project Update: July 2008

Semonkong communities have created a diverse experience in traditional way of farming and biodiversity conservation. Farming communities have exchanged seeds among themselves, multiply, save, develop and maintain plant varieties.

Activities carried out

1. The consultative processes targeting community leaders, local councils, individuals and community surrounding the project area and youth group to determine the conceptual and understanding of the project philosophy and understand their views about the project. This gathering noted that all people are recognize the importance of biological diversity conservation and utilization.

2. Project management committee made up of 15 individuals( 8 female and 7 males) from all groups within the community was established.

3. Management committee undergone training focused on the Business management, leadership and management skills, IPM.

4. More than 50 plants species is currently legal protected for their medicinal, nutritional and food security purposes and such list is available for use by project. we have taken steps to visits three existing projects ( 2 in Lesotho and 1 RSA). We have started purchasing some of tools and equipments to be used by the nursery.

5. Applied for site ownership to the local council and chief.

6. Regular meetings with relevant ministries held and joint trips to the project sites conducted to mobilize community.

Conclusion

We have observed that KMA staff and management committee have limited knowledge on biodiversity conservation concept and requires much further attention, especially given the short-term training and exposure visits to existing botanical gardens. We have ensured that nursery need to be linked with similar projects at national, regional and global level to secure its long-term ecological viability.