Page 16 - Landscape-Issue128

FEATURE

Truncheons will be planted on privately owned land or farms
within Spekboom’s native geography, where its thickets historically
existed. Planting is manual and straightforward – no fertiliser,
irrigation or ongoing management is required after planting. The
growing Spekboom plants achieve carbon sequestration.
The location of this initial project activity is spread among eight
separate and privately owned farms that are currently unused,
degraded or under-utilised for grazing animals. They are primarily
located in the Eastern Cape.
SNZ’s social and economic objectives for the project
These are as follows:
• to promote decent work and increase the income of local workers
and their families. Additional revenue to families will help mitigate
poverty conditions and hunger, raise living standards and help to
fund children’s education. The project will empower women and
children, and create family job prospects;
• farmers will see increased income for farms that previously
had little hope of a reliable future income. Many farmers had
considered selling their properties before this opportunity of
Spekboom carbon sequestration was presented to them;
• the local community will be consulted and informed of the
project’s activities in their area on a regular basis. Climate
education and awareness will be central to this communication
with the surrounding local communities;
• the project aims to provide local workers with a portion (an annuity
or trust) of the expected future carbon credit income stream. This
may help elevate the economic conditions of many in the Eastern
The components of sequestered carbon are shown: above ground biomass, Cape who currently live in poverty, surviving from day to day. A
litter biomass, below ground biomass (roots) and soil organic carbon stock. worker annuity fund would provide additional income to workers
beyond their three years of initial planting activity;
• once planting has been established, eco-tourism will be promoted
belongs to SNZ, who will pay for the necessary project activities to globally to provide additional income to farmers and local
follow the SOCIAL CARBON® Standard. Farmers will receive 70% of communities; and
income generated by the sale of carbon credits. • the success of this Phase 1 project will give rise to similar ones,
Spekboom restoration and thus carbon sequestration will be thus spreading these social and economic benefits throughout the
incentivised and financed through the carbon credit market. Once country.
planted, Spekboom establishes carbon sequestration rates related to No specific group will be defined as indigenous people living
its growth pattern and land coverage. Harvesting protocol involves within the project zone. The project brings a profitable business to
cutting truncheons from the topmost branches and ensuring that not local communities while at the same time helping to sequester CO 2
more than one third of the source plant is harvested in this way, so and providing a path to improved biodiversity.
as not to deplete current source populations. It is essential to harvest
truncheons from nearby the area identified to be revegetated, in Information and photos supplied by Philip A Smith of Spekboom Net
order to maintain genetic diversity patterns. Each farming location Zero. For further information he may be contacted on 082 853 2091 or
must harvest from Spekboom growing in its immediate vicinity. philip@spekboomnetzero.com n

Abundant Spekboom growing near Kirkwood in a fenced area close to a railroad track. The land beyond the railroad shows the results of over-grazed farmland.

14 Landscape SA • Issue 128 2023