By planting spekboom – which is native to the area – the natural vegetation is encouraged to re-establish over time as the spekboom grows and creates more favourable conditions for the sensitive plant species. With the recovery of the veld the soils begin to regenerate, as well as the various ecosystem services such as flood and erosion control. Notably, the restoration of spekboom-rich vegetation also has the important attribute of being able to capture atmospheric carbon at rates that may make carbon farming a possibility.

The water harvesting that results from spekboom restoration is significant – quantified at up to 10,000L per hectare from 10mm of rain!

To date, a total of 490 Ha of active restoration has been done, and a total of 1649 Ha of passive restoration has been set aside. Of the active restoration (where spekboom was planted), the project has seen unparalleled successful survival rates of between 75-80%.