$43.7 Million to Improve Management of Yallahs/Hope River Watershed

Activities towards bolstering the integrated management of the Yallahs/Hope River watershed area have been shored up with an injection of $43.7 million.

The undertaking, being implemented by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), aims to reduce the pressure on natural resources in the Yallahs River and Hope River Watershed of the Blue Mountains, by increasing the practice of Sustainable Land Management (SLM).

As contained in the 2015/16 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the Standing Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, the programme is expected to yield improved management of biological diversity and enhanced flow of ecosystem services that sustain the livelihood of local residents.

Some of the targets for the new fiscal year include: conducting geomorphology, meteorological and hydrological assessments; staging farmer sensitisation workshops; creating farm/demonstration plots (120 ha); and undertaking community training workshops.

The project, which is to end in August 2019, following an extension, is being financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Achievements up to December 2014 include: preparation of technical documents in relation to agro-forestry and biology, biodiversity; economics of natural resources, institutional framework for financial management, data mapping, rural development, communication, hydrology, and carbon sequestration.

Also, the project document was approved by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and submitted to GEF for final approval.

It is being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.