Mpumalanga's newly launched Heritage, Greening and Tourism Flagship Programme is set to boost socio-economic development in the region.

Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla officially introduced the programme this week, which is one of the Big Five flagship programmes approved by the provincial cabinet.

"The flagship projects are aimed at growing the regional economy, while also advancing socio-economic development," said the premier's spokesperson, Ntime Skhosana, on Wednesday.

The main aim of the project, he said, was to optimise the province's tourism potential to facilitate economic growth, sustainable development and job creation.

The heritage, greening and tourism programme seeks to preserve the area's cultural and natural heritage, as well as the environment through the promotion of sustainable tourism. The four other flagship programmes, Mr Skhosana said, are the Water for All, Maputo Development Corridor, Moloto Rail Development Corridor, and the Accelerated Capacity Building programmes.

Some of the specific objectives of heritage, greening and tourism programme include acknowledging, recording, transforming and preserving the province's natural and cultural heritage.

The programme also ensures a clean and healthy environment to the people living in and visiting the province. It will also create awareness on the importance of efficient usage of cultural and natural resources to ensure a "good life" for future generations.

Mr Skhosana said the launch of the programme, which took place at the Songimvelo Nature Reserve, celebrates province's internationally acclaimed heritage status of "the origin of life". "The area contains the oldest, most well-preserved sequence of volcanic and sedimentary rocks on Earth, dating back 3.6 billion years in the form of the Makhonjwa Mountaing.

"From a geological perspective, the physical and chemical characteristics of Makhonjwa Mountains provide an unparalleled repository of scientific information about the early Earth," he said.

The Makhonjwa Mountains has been approved for nomination for a World Heritage Site status.