Kuzuko (South Africa)

In the Eastern Cape, South Africa, land desertification is caused by the increasing pressure of livestock on pastureland. Today, the depletion of vegetation cover and the degradation of local farmers' land and surrounding reserves are causing many negative environmental effects, such as depletion of water resources, loss of biodiversity and soil erosion. Reforest'Action is joining forces with C4 EcoSolutions and AfriCarbon, two South African companies, to restore these ecosystems through the planting of Spekboom, a local species essential to the ecological functioning of the region. The project will develop a new sustainable pasture management system.

Project at a glance

Number of trees to be planted: 500 000
Species planted : Portulacaria afra   
Project type: restoration of degraded pastures
Planting period: between February and June

Contexte

In the Eastern Cape, South Africa, land desertification is caused by the increasing pressure of livestock on pastureland. Today, the depletion of vegetation cover and the degradation of local farmers' land and surrounding reserves are causing many adverse environmental effects, such as depletion of water resources, loss of biodiversity and soil erosion.

It is in this context that Reforest'Action is joining forces with C4 EcoSolutions and AfriCarbon, two South African companies, to restore these ecosystems by planting more than 500,000 feet of Spekboom, a local species essential to the ecological functioning of the region. The project will develop a new sustainable pasture management system to improve the carrying capacity of livestock without degrading the environment. Numerous benefits will also be generated: the return of biodiversity, especially of an elephant population, improved rainwater infiltration, restoration of arable land, etc.

The objective is to repopulate these areas with Spekboom, a keystone species essential to the ecological functioning of the ecosystem. The cuttings will be planted at about 2 meters intervals and in a random position. The proximity of protected areas will facilitate the circulation of plant species and their natural regeneration within the plantation areas, where they find the right conditions to develop. It is thus a true natural ecosystem that will be restored, rich in animal and plant biodiversity.