Reversing desertification with regenerative practices
A regenerative movement led by a common vision is tackling desertification, halting soil erosion and creating resilient communities.
Baviaanskloof – Langkloof, South Africa
Bringing back biodiversity through regenerative business models in Baviaanskloof – Langkloof
The Baviaanskloof-Langkloof is situated at the meeting point of three globally unique ecosystems (fynbos, spekboom thicket, and karoo) and has an incredible diversity of flora and fauna/vegetation and animals. In addition, the landscape is a key water source for the region: the Baviaanskloof, Kromme and Kouga rivers that run through the landscape feed into the water supply of the 1.3 million inhabitants of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and the surrounding area.
Local communities face the same social, economic and political challenges present throughout South Africa, with the Eastern Cape one of the poorest provinces in the country. Landscape degradation, as a result of unsustainable land management, climate-change, and the invasion of alien species, have all led to a loss of ground cover and natural vegetation, soil erosion, a decline in soil health, and water system disruption.
In 2014, Commonland partnered with Living Lands and Grounded to identify business opportunities and facilitate large-scale regeneration. During our collaboration, our partners set up three regenerative companies: Baviaanskloof Development Company (essential oils), Langkloof Honeybush Company (honeybush tea), and Baviaanskloof Bewarea (ecological rehabilitation).
“We must keep the faith in the project and in each other, and you will be amazed about what we can achieve.”
Piet Kruger, Farmer
Challenges
- Climate change: the current regional drought since 2015 is the worst on record
- Fast-growing alien invasive plant species, which push out the original vegetation
- Unsustainable land management
- Distance to market resulting in multiple obstacles to scaling regenerative companies
- Complex socio-cultural and political environment
Opportunities
- Leverage strong network and social capital built up with local farming communities over the years
- Develop existing business cases, such honeybush tea and essential oil production
- Scale rehabilitation efforts (i.e. clearing invasive species, soil erosion control, fire management) with opportunities to improve methods and efficiency
- Improve grazing management and build the business case for wildlife by reintroducing intensive grazers such as zebras
- Explore benefits of potential carbon credit scheme
Impact for this landscape
> 75,000
people
introduced to the opportunity of landscape restoration
> 100
jobs
created or supported
> 1,680
hectares
under improved land management
> 4
business cases
identified or set up
What has happened in the different zones
- Natural Zone
- Combined Zone
- Economic Zone
Regenerating a landscape’s ecological foundation by restoring and protecting native vegetation.
Activities:
- Re-planting indigenous species
- Clearing invasive alien species
- Soil erosion control
- Fire management
Rehabilitating natural vegetation and supporting improved management of livestock and sustainable harvesting of indigenous crops.
Activities:
- Rehabilitating vegetation cover
- Clearing invasive alien species
- Soil erosion control
- Fire management
- Basic infrastructure maintenance
- Grazing management
Restoring soil health through regenerative agriculture
Activities:
Transitioning to regenerative agricultural practices including intensive livestock production. Marketing and distribution of dried and distilled products. Developing 4 Returns business cases and other interventions to facilitate landscape restoration.
Degraded land in the Baviaanskloof valley.
Restored plots of land next to degraded land.
Rehabilitation work in the Baviaanskloof - digging large bunds to create small, healthy ecosystems and capture rainfall.
Rehabilitation work in the Baviaanskloof - brush packing in bunds to create small, healthy ecosystems and capture rainfall.
Rehabilitation work in the Baviaanskloof - digging bunds create small, healthy ecosystems and capture rainfall.
Farmer Peter showing the indigenous spekboom planted on his land.
Spekboom seedlings are grown in the nursery to be planted in the natural zone.
Spekboom is planted in the natural zone in the Baviaanskloof, to protect and increase soil health
Using a fire break for alien invasive species clearing in the Langkloof valley.
Farmer Runé overlooking his land and cattle. The sheep rotate to regenerate the soil. Baviaanskloof, South Africa.
Research plot Baviaanskloof DevCo to pilot and measure regenerative practices.
Honeybush is a viable source of income and boosts biodiversity in the combined zone in the Langkloof valley. By harvesting honey bush, the unique fynbos can be protected.
Fynbos - found mostly in the combined zone in the Langkloof valley - is known for its high biodiversity and endemism. Around 80% of the species can only be found in the bioregion and nearly 6,000 of them are endemic.
An array of unique plants and animals can be found in the fynbos ecosystem.
An array of unique plants and animals can be found in the fynbos ecosystem.
The rehabilitation team of the Langkloof researches and measures the honey bush production on a farmers land.
Seedlings are grown for the research & development plot, as well as for rehabilitation purposes in the natural zone.
Research plot and production facility for aromatic oils in the Baviaanskloof.
Farmer Runé in his field of rosemary, used in distilled products.
Research on and production of aromatic oils in the Baviaanskloof.
Research on and production of aromatic oils in the Baviaanskloof.
The research & development plot of the Baviaanskloof Devco pilots regenerative practices before bringing them to the farmers.
Monitoring the soil health is an ongoing activity in the research plot.
Monitoring is a key activity in the research plot.
