To improve ecosystem health and resilience in the Little Karoo and restore severely degraded thickets by planting spekboom in the Vanwyksdorp and Calitzdorp-Oudtshoorn areas.
Context and motivation:
The Albany Thicket biome is Africa’s most recently recognised biodiversity hotspot. Degradation of this biome – mainly due to overutilization – has transformed more than 800 000 hectares of dense thicket vegetation into an open desert-like landscape. This has undermined vital ecosystem services such as soil erosion and flood control, water infiltration, biodiversity, carbon capture and storage, and nature-based tourism.
This project draws on the lessons learnt from over a decade of practice in thicket restoration. It builds on the GCBR’s highly successful flagship project which has been running in Vanwyksdorp since 2014. Through this initiative, many job opportunities have been created, with a positive impact on local households. In addition, the local environment becomes aesthetically more pleasing over time, adding to the landscape’s natural beauty, which is an important drawcard of visitors to the region.
In the next three years, Jobs for Carbon will continue to work in the Vanwyksdorp area by planting additional degraded sites, while expanding its reach to the adjacent Calitzdorp-Oudtshoorn domain.
It is estimated that more than 10 000 ha of spekboom thicket in this area has been severely transformed. Some landowners are willing to restore spekboom but the exact location of suitable restoration sites and the required protocols for this area is yet to be determined.
Major Activities
Mapping and restoration programme development. A vegetation scientist will be commissioned to (i) map areas for restoration in the Calitzdorp-Oudtshoorn area (standing and degraded spekboom thicket at scale 1:15 000), and (ii) produce a restoration guideline document which sets out suitable restoration protocols for this area which covers approximately 120 000 ha.
Landowner engagement and determination of future options. This involves identifying and negotiating with priority landowners whose property includes sizeable portions of the degraded thicket. Landowners must be willing to leave these areas ungrazed for at least 10 years. Contractual agreements to this effect need to be negotiated. Our experience in Vanwyksdorp demonstrates that this work requires time and sensitivity in order to build relationships of trust. In addition to securing land for restoration in this project cycle, we hope to determine opportunities and priorities for a further 1500 ha for future programme expansion.
Establish and train one additional thicket restoration team. A new thicket restoration team will be established and equipped with the requisite skills and understanding of thicket restoration in the Calitzdorp-Oudtshoorn domain. We will continue to build on the human and social capital developed in previous years. Where possible, team leaders from Vanwyksdorp can support capacity building efforts for the new restoration team. Each team consists of 12 people from the local communities.
Restoration of degraded spekboom thicket. This is the heart of Jobs for Carbon and accounts for the bulk of the project’s financial investment. Spekboom harvesting and planting provides valuable employment to the poorest rural communities through the active restoration of the degraded thicket. Over a three-year period, 3 teams of 12 people each will be employed to restore at least 250 ha of degraded spekboom thicket across the Vanwyksdorp-Calitzdorp-Oudtshoorn domains.
Knowledge, Learning and Communications. Actions will include (i) carbon baseline assessments in all new restoration areas on a sampling basis in order to strengthen the knowledge base of carbon accrual in the landscape; (ii) a research initiative to investigate and evaluate other suitable species to enhance thicket restoration; (iii) taking part in knowledge network opportunities by presenting our work and lessons learnt, for example at the annual Thicket Forum in the Eastern Cape.
Project milestones after 3 years
At least 250 ha of degraded spekboom thicket was restored (establishment success rate =50%), and at least 400 ha added to the conservation estate.
At least 18 000 person-days employment (benefiting 36 people and their families).
1 new restoration team trained and able to take on future eco-services contracts.
New restoration methodologies tested; findings documented to guide future restoration actions.
Carbon baseline data from at least 50 sample plots.
Risk factors:
Resistance to withdraw land for the 10-year period from grazing, therefore lack of willing landowners.
Mitigation:
Strong stakeholder engagement, effective communications, innovative negotiations. Severe drought periods result in low establishment success. Mitigation: replanting in areas where poor establishment happened.
Vision:
To leave a legacy by being part of the solution for the global environmental crisis by being the catalyst of both social and environmental healing.
Mission:
To rehabilitate the natural landscapes and encourage biodiversity in the Little Karoo. Enhance the quality of life of the people by providing work and positive learning opportunities.
Objectives:
Rehabilitate degraded thicket areas through the planting of Spekboom and other indigenous species, to enhance carbon sequestration.
Eradicate invasive alien plants in mountain catchment and riparian zones.
Undertake soil erosion control exercises.
Mitigate the effects of climate change.
Prevent the degradation of peat wetlands.
Provide education and training.
Goals:
Secure funding to
complete the rehabilitation of 100 ha of identified Little Karoo land
maintain the areas where rehabilitation work has been completed
maintain the current core team of 30 qualified men and women
expand the team to include 30 more people from the local community
continue to build on the current team’s knowledge and range of skills
train up new employees to the highest possible standard to enable them to complete projects excellently.
maintain the Environmental Education program running in 8 schools
extend the Environmental Education program to include another 4 schools.
Create a wide network of like-minded people and build good relationships with potential collaborative partners, donors, landowners and schools.