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(PRE), then part of the Botanical Research Institute of South Africa. Duplicates were deposited in the National University of Lesotho Herbarium (ROML) in Roma and the Agricultural Research Division’s Herbarium (MASE) in Maseru. In addition to the mounted specimens, about 300 specimens were left unmounted. After the US Peace Corps volunteers left SNP in 1979, the plant collecting stopped and the herbarium was left largely untouched and literally until 1997. Five members (four from the National University of Lesotho in Roma) of the SABONET-Lesotho National Working Group visited SNP and the herbarium from 10–12 October 1997 to assess its status and make recommendations about its future (Mafa 1997). The team found that the herbarium contained a representative collection of specimens from the park and the specimens were still in good condition. Despite the lack of attention for twenty years, the specimens did not show any signs of fungal or insect infestation. The team also recommended that an inventory of the specimens within the herbarium be prepared and computerised, as this would serve as a useful guide when expanding the collection. On 31 March 1999 Gideon Smith and Christopher Willis surveyed the SNP Herbarium, in consultation with Lerato Kose, in order that it might be included in the updated and expanded version of Index herbariorum: southern African supplement (Smith & Willis 1997), expected to be published as a number in the SABONET Report Series during the second half of 1999. The herbarium currently serves as a reference collection of the Maluti and Drakensberg floras, but, considering the fact that ca 1 750 vascular plant species have so far been recorded in the Natal Drakensberg (Killick 1994), certainly needs to be expanded. Staff in the Ministry of Agriculture’s Conservation Division, with the assistance from SABONET-Lesotho and its National Working Group members, plan to develop and publicise the herbarium which was largely unknown within Lesotho and the rest of the southern African region for many years. SABONET support for the herbarium might include the provision of basic herbarium materials, such as herbarium cabinets and mounting materials. Support might extend to 150 the computerisation of the ca 1 000 herbarium specimens currently housed within the herbarium—probably using the National Botanical Institute’s PRECIS Specimen Database. This database has been adopted by botanical staff in the National University of Lesotho’s Biology Department to computerise the Roma Herbarium (ROML). 6 000 of the 15 000 specimens (40%) housed in ROML have so far been computerised. Management A Management Plan for the SNP has been developed recently. The management aims for the park include Conservation of representative ecosystems, their natural communities and component species, of the south-eastern portion of the Alpine Zone of Lesotho Conservation of present levels of genetic diversity Provision of opportunities for environmental and other research, and monitoring programmes Contributions to international, national and regional programmes for nature and environmental conservation, education and interpretation, leisure activities and opportunities The present and future management programme for the vegetation within the park includes Vegetation monitoring Conducting baseline and repeated surveys of the main plant communities in the park Developing a fire management plan for the park Controlling alien and indigenous problem species Re-establishing indigenous plants where they have been exterminated Ensuring the conservation of priority species (such as Aponogeton ranunculiflorus) Allowing for the controlled consumptive utilisation of vegetation in designated areas within the park With regard to fire management in SNP, Morris (1990) recommended a biennial burn during the winter period (i.e. after the first frosts and before the onset of growth in spring), with blocks being burnt in successive burning periods (May–June, July, August–September) every second year. Morris (1990) also noted, however, that no data �Continued on page 152 SABONET News Vol. 4 No. 2 August 1999
▲ Tarns like this in Sehlabathebe National Park are home to some fascinating aquatic plants, including the rare Aponogeton ranunculiflorus (Aponogetonaceae). Most of the plants seen floating on the water in this tarn are Limosella cf. inflata (Scrophulariaceae). ▲ The rolling afroalpine grasslands and sheets of exposed sandstone in Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. ▲ The A-framed Research Centre housing the herbarium in Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. SABONET News Vol. 4 No. 2 August 1999 ▲ An archway which has been formed naturally within the Cave Sandstone outcrops in Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. ▲ View of the lodge in the grasslands of Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. ▲ A close-up view of Limosella cf. inflata showing its flowers and floating leaves in one of the tarns occurring in the sandstone outcrops of Sehlabathebe National Park, Lesotho. 151
Page 1 and 2: Flora zambesiaca area, but I have o
Page 3 and 4: for Late Quarternary vegetation and
Page 5 and 6: the families of Cyperaceae-like pla
Page 7 and 8: SABONET News Vol. 4 No. 2 August 19
Page 9: egion: high species concentrations
Page 13 and 14: Kniphofia in Sehlabathebe. SABONET
Page 15 and 16: Lesotho. Unpublished report, Depart
Page 17 and 18: Conquering Crassula in Lesotho’s
Page 19 and 20: Southern African Botanists’ E-MAI
Page 21 and 22: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gar
Page 23 and 24: Dr Jeremy Midgley - midgleyj@botzoo
Page 25 and 26: Botanists working on southern Afric
Page 27 and 28: groups was often held up by a coupl
Page 29 and 30: News from Zimbabwe Anthony Mapaura,
Page 31 and 32: SABONET News is published in April,

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