The main climate change issue now experienced in the MDTFCA is DROUGHT. The main impact of drought is the drying of the rivers, siltation in rivers, and reduced water supply. Reduced water is mainly caused by lower rainfall especially during dry seasons. Wetlands, which are a major source of water to strategic rivers in the MDTFCA are degraded, which compounds the problem of drought and thus they need to be rehabilitated.

The objective of the project is to:

• Implement rehabilitation of wetlands in order to enhance their function as carbon sinks and regulators and providers of water to the ecosystem.
• Implement rangeland management in rangelands surrounding wetlands in order to restore and improve ecosystem health and prevent further wetland and rangeland degradation

​Goal 1: Implement rehabilitation of wetlands in order to enhance their function as carbon sinks and regulators and providers of water to the ecosystem.

• To identify wetlands that needs rehabilitation within the catchment
• To establish climate change steering committee
• To set goals and objectives of the project.
• To construct stone lines on the slope to reduce the rate of surface run off and soil erosion. The surveying and levelling equipment will used to ensure that construction is parallel to the natural contour lines.
• To construct closed pasture furrows on the slope to reduce the rate of surface run off and soil erosion. The surveying and levelling equipment will used to ensure that construction is parallel to the natural contour lines.

Goal 2: Implement rangeland management in rangelands surrounding wetlands in order to restore and improve ecosystem health and prevent further wetland and rangeland degradation

• To setup community based project implementation, monitoring and support structures that will carry-on the project objectives beyond funding period.
• To develop, implement a grazing management plan through participatory planning with local farming communities.
• To provide basic resources to enhance grazing management in project areas.
• To develop and implement proper monitoring frameworks for the grazing management plan

The proper functionality of wetlands will enhance carbon sequestration, and reduce its effects to climate change, as well as regulate water and enhance the provision of water to the MDTFCA. Thus this mitigation measure will enhance adaptation of the ecosystem and associated wetlands to the impacts of Climate Change.

Other benefits include the improvement of livelihoods for local communities through short term employment of local household’s members to conduct the rehabilitation, as well as the obvious benefit of regulated water for domestic use and agriculture.

Outputs: 86 hectares wetland area re-vegetated, 16 jobs created on the Lesotho side, 22 Gabion structures, 22 Concrete, 22 Earthworks, 22 Earth structures constructed.

Outcomes - Result to be achieved: Enhancing the function of the wetland for filtration to improve water quality (this will ensure that the water that is supplied to the rivers is of good quality) – reduce the risk of waterborne diseases, enhanced water retention and infiltration functionality, and enhance the functionality of wetlands as carbon sinks.

Improved ecosystem health - rangelands, improved quality of livestock, social cohesion, and improved livestock security through livestock herding in the long term.