Alternative Forest Models

The position paper, "Forests, Water and Development: Seeking Effective Ways of Utilizing Our Resources" (2005), by Dirk Versfeld and Mike Warren from South Africa’s Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, explores sustainable forestry models to address water scarcity and rural development needs. The paper suggests a transition from fast-growing exotic tree plantations, such as pine and eucalyptus, to slower-growing, high-value indigenous species. These alternatives would require less water, support biodiversity, and provide socio-economic benefits for rural communities.

### Key Points

1. Water Conservation: Fast-growing plantations consume significant water, impacting local water resources. Switching to slow-growing species could mitigate these effects and offer a sustainable approach to managing water resources in water-scarce areas.

2. Rural Development: Indigenous tree plantations could empower rural communities by providing high-value timber, traditional medicines, and multiple-use benefits. Unlike the fast-profit model, these slower systems promise longer-term economic and environmental sustainability.

3. Economic Viability: The shift to slower-growing trees challenges traditional forestry economics, as it delays returns on investment. However, multiple benefits—such as honey, medicinal products, and ecotourism—could provide interim income. Additionally, this model aligns with environmental regulations aimed at water conservation.

4. Regulatory Support: Since forestry is recognized as a major water user, regulations under the National Water Act now restrict expansion in stressed catchments. A phased transition from fast-growing to slow-growing species could allow forestry to adapt sustainably within these limits.

5. Ecological and Social Benefits: Indigenous plantations can restore degraded lands, reduce the need for water infrastructure, and support biodiversity. Encouraging mixed-use forestry models would also promote ecotourism and community-based forest management.

6. Policy and Research Needs: This model requires new policies, research into site-species matching, and financial incentives for long-term forestry investments. The paper calls for a collaborative effort between government, industry, and communities to adopt this sustainable forestry paradigm.

### Conclusion

The authors advocate for a reimagined South African forestry sector that prioritizes water efficiency, rural development, and ecological integrity, envisioning forestry as a tool for social and environmental improvement rather than solely for profit maximization.

Read paper here

ReWild Mpumalanga Newsletter #5

13 August, 2024

It’s high time for a newsletter update—much has happened over the past few months, and our project has grown significantly in both potential and impact.

Social Employment Fund (SEF)

Under the ReWild Mpumalanga Project, we now have access to 90 part-time ‘restoration agents’ working two days a week, building our capacity to effectively address the various critical issues facing our integrated environment. The SEF support is facilitated by AvoVision, which manages payroll and projects for over 2,500 people across five provinces. All our 90 workers are registered on a mobile phone application that uses facial recognition to log participants in and out, capturing their hours and work activities.

We are the first to admit that we currently lack the capacity to fully utilize this expanded team, as we still need some fundamental resources, such as dedicated transport to move the teams around and be on standby in case of emergencies. However, we recognize the immense need for restoration work and the employment opportunities this project provides. We are committed to doing our best to facilitate this initiative and make it work for both people and nature.

We thank AvoVision for trusting us with the responsibility of managing these SEF workers—not only to provide part-time job opportunities but also to train and develop the team’s expertise in land restoration activities, building skills, and potentially changing lives.

Project Biome 

The team from Project Biome visited our project site in April 2024. We inspected the area where the ReWild team has been engaged in restoration activities, and the team experienced firsthand how a ‘tree popper’ works to uproot a lantana plant. We discussed the potential for this area to become a ‘Rewilding Centre of Excellence.’ As always, I was inspired by the positive energy and ‘good vibes’ emanating from the entire Project Biome team.

We also traveled about 20 km up the valley to visit a very special waterfall and some of the ancient, abandoned ruins that can be found in the area. These ruins could be thousands of years old, and their origins remain largely a mystery. On this excursion, we were joined by Leigh Voigt, a local community member and artist whose soul resonates with the same energy as that of the Project Biome team.

I was privileged to be invited to attend a Radical Collaboration Workshop, hosted by Project Biome in the Magaliesberg area, not far from Johannesburg. The event took place at a resort where elephants, giraffes, waterbuck, wildebeest, and other animals roamed freely across a 4,000-hectare estate. During a game drive, I was particularly impressed by the sighting of a large black mamba, arguably one of the world’s most dangerous and venomous snakes.

The workshop was filled with interesting exercises, discussions, and events, all aimed at fostering greater understanding and closer cooperation. I felt incredibly fortunate to be in the company of so many wonderful souls, and it’s heartening to know that this is just the beginning of our journey together.

I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for Zach Bush, a founding member of Project Biome. His energy, wisdom, and compassion motivate and inspire the entire Project Biome team. When he greets you, he doesn’t just shake your hand—he gives you a genuine, heartfelt hug. Few people have the confidence to share themselves as openly as he does, and it’s truly a gift.

One exercise required participants to team up, learn from, and describe each other. While I can’t recall everything that was said about Zach Bush, I do remember that he was described as both a ‘songbird and a pathfinder,’ the ‘songbird’ lighting the way for the ‘pathfinder’, and others, to follow. 

Biochar’s Role in Restoration 

As we clear invasive plants through the management of alien vegetation and bush encroachment, we have access to a significant amount of biomass. Traditionally, this biomass would be left in the field to dry out and then burned as part of natural veld management. Now, we use a portion of this biomass to produce biochar. We utilize an open-top 220-liter drum and the ‘flame-capped’ method, which is an ancient technique for producing biochar. To scale up production, we have now dug a 3-meter-wide, 1-meter-deep pit, which will allow us to process more biomass into biochar.

We’ve developed a ‘Guide to Biochar Production’ using a 220-liter drum, available [here]

Excited about the biochar we were producing, we were advised to contact Carbon Standards International, which offers an Artisan C Sink program for certifying biochar. This program could ultimately enable us to trade carbon credits on the voluntary carbon market. Our organization, GeaSphere, could register to become certified as an Artisan C Sink Manager, enabling us to conduct workshops on biochar and activate small-scale artisan biochar production, potentially leading to carbon credits and a new revenue source for producers and the project. However, after careful consideration, we’ve decided that we’re not yet ready to embark on this process. As an organization, we currently lack the financial capacity to commit to the fees associated with accreditation. We will continue to explore the possibilities that carbon credit schemes offer, recognizing that as a by-product of rewilding, land restoration, and biochar production, we are indeed ‘in the business of carbon sequestration.’

Social Media

We still host regular clubhouse rooms, every week on Sunday at 9pm CAT. We host discussions with people from all across the world various topics, most centred around land restoration and re-wilding. We discuss compost making and biochars, all the time shaping our understanding and sharing our experience. We had recently been graced with the presence of Jay Naidoo, a South African EcoSocial Activist with a mountain of experience. He was a founding member of COSAATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), and served a a minister in South Africa’s first democratically elected government, in the cabinet of Nelson Mandela. He is also a board member of Project Biome, and I had the privilege to meet him and his family at the Project Biome Workshop. He was a guest in a clubhouse room, shared some of his wisdom. You can listen to a ‘replay’ here.

Our Facebook Page recently had elevated activity, as there were thousands of engagements on a post we shared relating to the biochar we make. Clearly, biochar is of interest to many, rightfully so. It is this FB post which led to us producing a ‘Guide to Biochar production in a 220 litre drum. Thank you Lisa Steyn!

We maintain a low profile presence on Linkedin, Tik-Tok, X, Restor and Patreon. 

Fundraising Efforts

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the tribe members who have donated to our project. Without your support, we wouldn’t have the confidence to bring this project to life and watch it grow.

We continue to explore additional resources and have submitted project proposals to WWF, Sappi, and TRAC, seeking their partnership and assistance. Our fundraising efforts are supported by Project Biome, which has already secured funding for some of the PPE and equipment we need.

Spotlight on Bev Zeigler

The ReWild Mpumalanga journey has been filled with dreams, hopes, achievements, and obstacles. Yet, we can say with certainty that we are moving forward, building our network and capacity.

There is one person in particular who deserves special recognition for her significant contributions to the establishment and progress of this project. Her motivation, inspiration, experience, guidance, and dedication to the environment have been invaluable to GeaSphere and the ReWild Mpumalanga Project. We appreciate you, Bev Zeigler, and we are proud to have you as a member of the GeaSphere Board.

The Way Forward

We recognize that we have many rivers to cross and bridges to build on our journey toward rewilding, but we tackle this journey with courage and confidence. In the words of MaTshepo Khumbane, “We hold hands together because together, we can be as strong as a river that cannot be blocked by anyone”.

We Care for the Environment

Philip Owen

GeaSphere

Mail: geasphereafrica@gmail.com

Web: www.geasphere.org

ReWild Mpumalanga, Newsletter #4

19 March 2024

More than two months have flown by since the last newsletter, December 2023. 

Land restoration work is focused on removal of invasive plants. It is a huge task, which we engage with courage and confidence in 2024.

Pilot Project

• Lazarus and Bongani, our two full time field rangers continued work along the Houtbosloop River, clearing Lantana, BugWeed (Bonga Bonga), Ageratum (BillyGoat weed), Polka Dot Plant, Seringa and Jacaranda.  
  

• During December, the team worked along the slopes of the mountain, making significant progress in a heavily lantana affected area. In this area, more than a decade ago, a team from the University of Johannesburg had released a biological control agent, a tiny insect which eats the leaves of the lantana plant. Unfortunately it seems as if these biological control agents had no impact, as all the lantana plants we removed grew vigorously with no sign of any insect damage. On some days the Social Employment Fund (SEF) team worked with Lazarus and Bongani, and the additional support adds significantly to the efficacy of the project. 

• During January / February, the team returned to the ‘riparian forest’ area extensively cleared during November 2023. Follow up work was done and any ‘re-growth’ of invasive alien plants removed. 

• Early in February, Lazarus and Bongani opened up an access path to the deep rainforest valley area, in preparation for accompanying the SEF team members for some ‘targeted operations’ against lantana ‘hotspots’. This area is located far away from the base, and impossible to access using vehicles. We use a small Yanmar tractor with a trailer to move equipment as close as possible to the target area. This little tractor is more than 40 years old. 

• During February, the majority of the work was focused on vegetation along the banks of the Houtbosloop River and in the subtropical forest / grassland interface. 
  

Social Employment Fund (SEF) Team

• Since January 2024, the SEF team has been equipped with appropriate PPE, workwear and tools to meaningfully engage in invasive plant control.

• We thank AvoVision for supporting equipment (chainsaws), PPE and training. Also much thanks to Project Biome for facilitating additional equipment, PPE and workwear. 

• Some SEF team members still support the local community effort to maintain and restore the R539 road surface, which is affected by cracks and potholes in the tarmac. 

• We currently have 10 people employed through the SEF program, and we had just been contacted with an offer of employing 20 additional workers locally. This is Great news, and given the need for land restoration and jobs, we feel that it is our obligation to accept.
  

• With twenty more people locally, and 20 additional people in Bushbuck Ridge, this means that we will have to increase our capacity to enable meaningful restoration action. We will have to find the additional resources to equip our new members with the workwear (overalls and boots), equipment (including additional chainsaws), additional PPE and training. 
  

General

• We have taken a decision in principle, that all supporters of the project who have donated $50 or more will receive a digital certificate with a unique 3x3m digital square in the target area, demarcated using the What3Words Geolocation application. You would then be able to easily locate this area on a map and see where your support is making a difference. The Sudwala rainforest area has been classified into 5 different ‘categories’ starting with the most abundant Savannah grasslands, through subtropical forests, River vegetation and climax grassland. The highest category is ‘sites of special significance’ such as the mysterious stone wall ruins and crystal clear fountains that can be found in the target area. We attach a ‘flyer’ promoting the project, and would value your feedback. 
  

• Our ClubHouse talks are still held regularly on Monday’s, at 7pm Central African Time. During these informal gatherings we discuss Earth Matters, always providing feedback with regard to the progress of the ReWild Mpumalanga Project, and discussing some of the latest developments in the climate / environment sectors globally and locally. We encourage you to attend these discussion rooms, where we share and learn from each other. 

• With support from Project Biome, we may soon become involved in a mission to comprehensively map the Houtbosloop River catchment, with special focus on identifying invasive plant ‘hotspots’. Such a map would be a valuable tool in identifying priority areas for management intervention. Specialised drone technology would be used extensively in this mapping effort. 

• Members from the GeaSphere committee (Philip Owen and Lisa Steyn) attended the Schoemanskloof / Sudwala Sub Catchment Forum meeting and had the opportunity to present the project to attendees. The project was well received and we will continue discussions with some individuals in the Schoemanskloof (the valley just to the south of Sudwala), looking at ways to strengthen the project and expand its reach and efficacy. 
  

We want to thank all of our supporters for your part in making this project a reality. 

Warm Regards

Philip Owen

GeaSphere