▲ Continued from page 150 were available concerning the growing season of the temperate and subtropical grass species in SNP and elsewhere in Lesotho, and that “caution should be exercised when burning these grasslands”. This programme would, however, have to be monitored, evaluated and perhaps adapted, depending on the effects of the proposed fire regime on the composition of the grasslands in SNP. Current and proposed developments The following developments are planned for SNP: Establishing a Research and Information Centre Expanding the herbarium to house more specimens Developing hiking trails to places of interest, for example, the waterfall, rock pools with Aponogeton ranunculiflorus Extending the lodge to accommodate more guests Reintroducing flora and fauna species Upgrading the access route to the Park Erecting a perimeter fence Expanding the National Parks Section to a Division for more effective management of SNP Staff training (short term) Developing camping sites Links with KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service Lesotho National Parks, the body managing SNP, initiated links with the Natal Parks Board (now KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service) when the park was established in 1970. The KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service has provided technical advice on managing and developing SNP, for example, assisting in the compilation of the Sehlabathebe Management Plan. The Service also helped with training SNP staff in fire management. Maluti/Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area The Maluti/Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area covers the Drakenberg area, Qacha’s Nek and Mokhotlong Districts, including SNP. Under the Maluti/Drakensberg Transfrontier programme, the area is meant to be developed and managed for the conservation of its biodiversity. 152 The programme is a joint venture between Lesotho and South Africa. Lesotho National Parks is represented on the programme’s Steering Committee by Ms Nkareng ‘Mota, the Chief Conservation Officer of the Conservation Division. The committee’s role is to ensure the planning and development of the program, which started in 1999. Acknowledgements We thank René Glen (PRE) for assistance in providing information on Aponogeton ranunculiflorus, and Shirley Smithies (PRE) for useful discussions concerning the taxonomy of Limosella. ❑ References and Further Reading Acocks, J.P.H. 1975. Veld Types of South Africa (2nd Edition). Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa No. 40. 128 pp. Anonymous. 1994. Is the spiral aloe heading for extinction? Mehloli 6: 28. Anonymous. 1999. Endangered African Aloe thrives in California. Plant Talk 16: 18. Beverly, A. 1978. A survey of Aloe polyphylla. Veld & Flora 64(1): 24–27. Beverly, A.C. 1979. My quest for Aloe polyphylla. Cactus & Succulent Journal (U.S.) 51(1): 3–8. Beverly, A.C. 1980. The ecologic status and environment of Aloe polyphylla in Lesotho. Cactus & Succulent Journal (U.S.) 52(5): 216–219. Breen, C.M. & Begg, G.W. 1989. Conservation status of southern African wetlands. In: Biotic Diversity in Southern Africa: Concepts and Conservation, ed. B.J. Huntley. Oxford University Press, Cape Town, pp. 254–263. Burrows, J.E. 1990. Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen Publishers, Sandton. 359 pp. Greyling, T. & Huntley, B.J. (Eds) 1984. Directory of southern African Conservation Areas. South African National Scientific Programmes Report No. 98. 311 pp. Gunn, M. & Codd, L.E. 1981. Botanical Exploration of southern Africa. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town. 400 pp. Hall, A.V., De Winter, M., De Winter, B. & Van Oosterhout, S.A.M. 1980. Threatened Plants of southern Africa. South African National Scientific Programmes Report No. 45. 244 pp. Hardy, D.S. 1968. The spiral aloe from the Maluti Mountains. Cactus and Succulent Journal (U.S.) 40(2): 49–51. Hatch, G.P. & Zacharias, P.J.K. (Eds) 1995. Second Developing Areas Symposium Proceedings: People, Rangelands and Development. Grassland Society of Southern Africa, Pietermaritzburg. 43 pp. �Continued on page 154 <strong>SABONET</strong> News Vol. 4 No. 2 August 1999
Kniphofia in Sehlabathebe. <strong>SABONET</strong> News Vol. 4 No. 2 August 1999 153