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REHABILITATION FEATURE

Pre-selected cuttings being planted into trays to promote root growth Sand being prepared for the planting trays

Trays being filled with sifted sand Workers from the local community sifting soil to remove unwanted rocks and larger
plant matter before using the soil to plant cuttings in trays to promote root growth

Spekboom tree in the next 18 months, training local workers with new skills and
A special aspect of this project is the planting of Spekboom trees, putting money into the local economy.
indigenous succulents that once covered large parts of the Eastern In addition to jobs created during the restoration work, a portion
Cape. Over the last 30 years, researchers have found that replanting of the funds has been allocated to social and environmental
Spekboom has the following beneficial effects on the landscape, all projects through the Kuzuko Foundation. Two schools in the area
of which allow other species to flourish: will be supported with improvements to their IT systems, buildings
• fallen leaves are trapped by the plant’s stems and decompose to and landscaping, as well as providing environmental education
form new topsoil; at Kuzuko’s education centre. The project will also support the
• the canopy slows rain water, reducing run-off and further topsoil Kuzuko Foundation’s ongoing projects of skills training for local
loss; communities and conservation programmes, which include the
• stems and root systems allow the ingress of water into the soil, wilding of orphaned or captive born cheetahs to contribute towards
increasing moisture content; and diversifying the genetics of the species.
• the shade from the canopy reduces the soil surface temperature,
slowing the rate of moisture loss. Partnership
As well as being an ecosystem engineer, Spekboom is particularly The reforestation project is a partnership between Inqo Investments
good at capturing carbon from the atmosphere, with each hectare and AfriCarbon through its subsidiary, Spekboom Trading, and has
replanted capturing up to three hundred tonnes of carbon dioxide been funded through a long-term agreement with Reforest’Action, a
over a 30 year period. B Corp certified restoration specialist based in Paris, France.
Carbon credits and other benefits For further information visit the following websites:
The Kuzuko project is a VERRA carbon standard verified project, www.legacyhotels.co.za Legacy Hotels & Resorts
so carbon credits can be issued for the carbon sequestered by www.inqo.co.za Inqo Investments Ltd
the Spekboom thicket which will be used to repay the initial www.kuzuko.com Kuzuko Private Game Reserve
investment, fund further restoration work and additional social www.africarbon.co.za AfriCarbon
initiatives. www.reforestaction.com Reforest’Action
The project is developed under VERRA’s Climate Community and www.spekboomtrading.co.za Spekboom Trading
Biodiversity (CCB) Standards and an important aspect of it is job www.kuzukoproject.co.za The Kuzuko Project
creation, specifically in an area of high unemployment and limited
opportunities. It is anticipated that over 200 jobs will be created Photos supplied by Legacy Hotels & Resorts n

Landscape SA • Issue 124 2023 27