E98.5 Million Conservation Project Delivers Lasting Impact for Eswatini's Protected Areas
A conservation initiative worth approximately E98.5 million (USD6 million) has continued to deliver measurable benefits for communities and biodiversity across Eswatini, as stakeholders assess the long-term outcomes of the Strengthening the National Protected Areas System (SNPAS) Project. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented between 2015 and 2021 through the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) with UNDP oversight, the six-year programme expanded the country's protected area coverage from 3.9 per cent to 5.5 per cent, while securing nearly 20,000 hectares of private and communal land through Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
The project's impact came into focus during a recent learning visit by UNDP Resident Representative Henrik Franklin and ENTC Chief Executive Officer Thulani Methula to three supported sites - Shewula Community Nature Reserve, Mbuluzi Game Reserve, and Mlawula Nature Reserve. Beyond biodiversity protection, the initiative supported community-based ecotourism infrastructure, invasive species management, and improved conservation technologies, all of which have contributed to local livelihoods and long-term environmental sustainability. The visit offered stakeholders an opportunity to evaluate the durability of the project's achievements and reinforce collaboration between communities, government, and development partners as Eswatini navigates ongoing environmental and climate-related pressures.
Source: Eswatini Positive News
