Berea ___ When rangelands fires continue to become an environmental threat, Pulane, Ha-Mosiuoa Community Councilor Mrs. Mathaele Machepa has encouraged men to take responsibility to conserve the natural vegetation.

Mrs. Machepha made the remarks during the public gathering staged at Pulane, Ha-Mosiuoa on Friday.

She pointed out that they always engage in disaster management and fire safety training, but it is so shameful that their place is running out of range lands as a result of uncontrolled fires.

Ha-Mosiuoa Community Councilor said herders spend much of their time on the rangelands and they are likely to be the ones initiating such fires with the purpose to get some green shots for their animals, but unaware of the dangers they are causing to the natural vegetation.

Mrs. Machepha further warned them to refrain from such behavior, adding that it is high time that men play their role to nurture their boys about the importance of natural vegetation.

She said efforts to raise awareness and to always engage them in talks will make them feel the sense of responsibility and ownership of protecting the rangelands.

Mr. Sebakhele Mahlephe, one of the community members said their lives depend on livestock keeping, but lately they are worried about the rate at which they lose their rangelands due to fires.

Mr. Mahlephe said although they always talk to their herders, it is surprising that their place usually suffers from uncontrolled fires and as a result some plants are facing extinction.

He added that lately they hardly receive rains at the expected time prior to summer cropping, and that might be the result of climate change, therefore they encourage environmental stakeholders to intensify educational campaigns for the community.

Sharing the same sentiments, Pulane Ha-Mosiuoa Area chieftainess Mamohau Kobobo urged the community members to instill the sense of responsibility among their children to love and protect the natural vegetation.

Chieftainess Kobobo stressed that rangelands fires and livestock which graze on the wetlands cause wetlands loss and land degradation and there is a need to protect them as they are a major source of water resources.

Pulane is situated on the northern part of the Berea district foothills where the wetlands for Phuthiatsana River which supply the Metolong dam with water are located.