Leemisa Thuseho
BIRDWATCHERS, conservationists and citizen scientists across southern Africa will converge from 6 to 9 February 2026 for a coordinated bird-monitoring campaign under the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2), one of the region’s most significant long-term biodiversity initiatives.
In Lesotho, the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) will coordinate and host the highlands leg of the campaign, underscoring its role in environmental stewardship and biodiversity conservation within the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) footprint.
“Birdwatchers, conservationists, and citizen scientists across southern Africa will unite from 6–9 February 2026 for a major coordinated field campaign under the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2), one of the region’s most important long-term biodiversity monitoring initiatives,” LHDA says in a statement released this week.
Launched in 2007, SABAP2 builds on the original Southern African Bird Atlas Project to create a comprehensive and continuously updated database of bird distribution across South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini. The project relies on trained volunteers who record bird sightings in standardised grid squares, producing high-resolution data on species distribution, movement and long-term population trends.
“Launched in 2007, SABAP2 builds on the original Southern African Bird Atlas Project to deliver the most comprehensive and continuously updated database of bird distribution in the region.”
The February campaign will involve coordinated surveys across urban, rural, wetland and mountainous areas, with a particular focus on Lesotho’s high-altitude ecosystems. These environments are regarded as ecologically fragile but vital for biodiversity, water security and rural livelihoods.
Through LHDA’s coordination, field activities in the Lesotho Highlands will be aligned with existing environmental management, conservation and monitoring programmes implemented under the LHWP.
“Through LHDA’s coordination, fieldwork in the Lesotho Highlands, an event open to all enthusiasts will be aligned with existing environmental management, conservation, and monitoring programmes implemented as part of the LHWP.”
Environmental experts say up-to-date field data is increasingly important as bird populations shift due to climate change, habitat loss and growing human pressure. Some species are declining rapidly, while others are expanding into new areas, creating challenges for conservation planning.
“Bird populations across southern Africa are shifting rapidly as a result of climate change, habitat alteration, and increasing human pressures.”
During the four-day campaign, hundreds of observers are expected to collect thousands of new records, filling critical data gaps and strengthening regional conservation science.
Birds are widely recognised as key indicators of ecosystem health, and SABAP2 data is used to inform national biodiversity policy, conservation prioritisation and international environmental reporting. For Lesotho, where mountain ecosystems underpin regional water systems, the atlas provides evidence to balance development with environmental sustainability.
“Birds are widely recognised as key indicators of ecosystem health. SABAP2 data informs national biodiversity policy, supports conservation prioritisation, and contributes to international environmental reporting frameworks.”
By the end of the campaign, thousands of new observations will be added to the SABAP2 database, each representing a contribution by citizen scientists to long-term conservation knowledge.
“By the close of the campaign on 9 February 2026, thousands of new observations will be incorporated into the SABAP2 database, each record representing a meaningful contribution by ordinary citizens to extraordinary scientific work.”
