1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Working on Ecosystems (Natural Resource Management Programmes – DEA, South Africa)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

SMC Synergy (SMC Synergy) - South Africa

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The restoration of the thicket biome in the Eastern Cape is assisted by planting ‘spekboom’ (elephant bush) (Portulacaria afra), an indigenous succulent plant within contour lines/riplines on degraded hillslopes. The increased vegetation cover reduces runoff and soil loss.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Due to severe land degradation over many decades of goat farming, the restoration of the so-called ‘thicket biome’ is taking place on a large scale in the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve and Camdeboo National Park in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The restoration projects have been introduced in parts of the thicket biome that receive 350 to 500 mm annual average rainfall. The main direct cause of degradation is overgrazing/browsing by goats (Boer and Angora) over the past 100 years. The overutilization of vegetation occurs mainly on valley bottoms and footslopes in mountainous areas where relatively fertile soils occur. This has resulted in large expanses of open vegetation canopy under which a high degree of runoff occurs - and subsequent soil loss leading to increased sediment loads in downstream drainage systems. The thicket biome vegetation (especially spekboom) is well known for its ability to sequester large amounts of carbon and therefore help towards mitigating climate change. The improved vegetation cover also contributes towards an increase in biodiversity, and therefore has a positive impact on tourism also. Establishment of spekboom in riplines can be used in combination with other technologies e.g. brush packing (laying cut bush on the soil surface), silt fences (low barriers across the slope) or fibre rolls. This technology can be employed in any similar semi-arid environment to restore degraded catchments - using locally appropriate plant species.
After identification of sites to be rehabilitated, this is followed by the identification of suitable sources of plant material for transplantation at the rehabilitation areas. In the case of the project in the Eastern Cape, spekboom cuttings of 30 to 50 cm in length were taken from existing stands, then left for one to two weeks in the sun to dry slightly before being transplanted in the rehabilitation sites. Care must be taken not to over-harvest healthy spekboom stands - not more than 30% should be removed.
Riplines need to be created along the contour by means of mechanisation or manual labour. Riplines should be between 3 and 10 meter apart - depending on the slope (closer on steep slopes) - 10 to 20 cm deep and just wide enough to plant the spekboom cuttings to a depth of at least 10 cm. Cuttings are planted between 15 to 20 cm apart within the ripline, so as to form a continuous barrier/sediment trap along the contour. The ripline promotes water infiltration into the rootzone of the cuttings. Cuttings need to be firmed-in with soil dug from the ripline. Watering the spekboom after planting is recommended – if possible. Brush packing (brush packing with thorny biomass to prevent grazing and provide a micro-climate for grass seed to germinate and establish) between riplines with local woody material (if available locally, and preferably thorny branches) is recommended to provide protection against grazing and to create a micro-climate for vegetation growth. In between riplines, silt fences or fibre rolls can be used to slow water runoff and to trap sediment. Maintenance includes the replanting of cuttings where mortality occurred.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2010

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• during experiments/ research

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Research conducted by P Burdett at Camdeboo National Park.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• conserve ecosystem
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• preserve/ improve biodiversity
• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts
• mitigate climate change and its impacts
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Main animal species and products: Various game species.

Number of growing seasons per year: 1
Livestock density: Only wildlife - low density

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• improved ground/ vegetation cover
• water harvesting
• surface water management (spring, river, lakes, sea)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• restore/ rehabilitate severely degraded land

Comments:

Overgrazing by goats over the past 100 years – land has been purchased from private landowners since 1987.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Rand

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

12.0

4.3 Establishment activities

	Activity	Timing (season)
1.	Creation of riplines (unskilled manual labour)	during wet season
2.	Collection of Spekboom cuttings	during wet season
3.	Transport of cuttings to planting site	during wet season
4.	Planting of cuttings in riplines	during wet season
5.	Watering of cuttings	during wet season

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Unskilled labour (including transport)	per day	20.0	240.0	4800.0	100.0
Equipment	Picks, spades, wheel barrow, bow saw and pruning shears (renting equipment)	per day	20.0	20.0	400.0	100.0
Plant material	Planting material is free
Plant material	Planting material is free
Other	Management (including transport)	per day	2.0	600.0	1200.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					6400.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD					533.33

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Timing/ frequency
1.	Replant cuttings where mortality occurs	6 to 8 months after planting

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Replanting of cuttings (unskilled labour - including transport)	per day	10.0	240.0	2400.0	100.0
Other	Management (including transport)	per day	1.0	600.0	600.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					3000.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD					250.0

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Soil hardness, labour cost and distance to rehabilitation site.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• convex situations

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

Yes

Specify:

High sodium content in the parent sedimentary rock

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Rehabilitation mainly on State-owned conservation areas - can be replicated on private land.

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• state

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)

• Conservation areas

• Conservation areas

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Water cycle/ runoff

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Specify assessment of off-site impacts (measurements):

The cumulative effect of large areas planted with Spekboom will have a huge offsite impact especially after a few years.

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	increase or decrease	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local thunderstorm	very well
local hailstorm	not well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
cold wave	not well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
flash flood	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• 1-10%

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Yes

other (specify):

Improved planting techniques

Specify adaptation of the Technology (design, material/ species, etc.):

Planting of cuttings with established roots from the mother plant and creation of small notches a the cutting to stimulate root growth.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
A long-term cost-effective technique to rehabilitate badly degraded thicket vegetation.
Creates temporary work for poor local communities.
Reduces sediment load in streams and rivers.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Spekboom sequesters large quantities of carbon and therefore contributes over the long term to climate change mitigation.
Downstream benefits on water quality.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Labour intensive - not viable if not subsidised by Government.	Reduce manual labour - mechanise the creation of riplines.
Newly established spekboom stands vulnerable to browsing.	Fence rehabilitated areas.
Newly established spekboom stands vulnerable to drought and frost.	Timing of planting in wet/warm season

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Spekboom foundation

URL:

http://www.spekboomfoundation.co.za/about.html