Landscapes)and)restora-on:)Rehabilita-ng)landscapes,)restora-on)andresilience)in)the)face)of)new)and)emerging)challenges)–)restoring)tree

diversity;)some)insights)into)the)Natural)Resource)ManagementProgrammes)in)South)Africa.

Christo(Marais:(Department(of(Environmental(Affairs(South(Africa

Environmental(Programmes)))))))

1. Some'impacts'of'land'degrada4on'on'natural'infrastructure'and'the

quality'and'quan4ty'of'ecosystem'services'focusing'on'woodland'and'forest

landscapes.

2. Overview'of'biomes'rela4ng'to'land'degrada4on.

3. Interven4ons'by'the'South'African'government'to'increase'investments'in

natural'infrastructure'and'the'delivery'of'key'ecosystem'services:

SubTropical'Thicket'Restora4on'Programme

Makapanstad'Bush'Encroachment'Project

Working'for'Forests'–'KwaZuluONatal'&'Eastern'Cape

Riparian'restora4on'–'Western'Cape

4. Mainstreaming'investments'in'natural/ecological'infrastructure'and'the

delivery'of'ecosystem'services.

5. Some'recommenda4ons'on'future'investments.

Presenta(on*Overview

Mainstreaming+investments+in+natural/ecological+infrastructure+and+thedelivery+of+ecosystem+services.

+

Overview'of'Land'Use'in'South'Africa

!

“Over&simplified”&Spectrum&of&Degrada8on

Bush Encroachments & InvasivesDesertificationCourtesy)Prof:)Rudi)van)Aarde

Courtesy)Prof:)Rudi)van)Aarde

Extent&of&Natural&ResourceDegrada4on&in&South&Africa

Alien&plant&invasions&(around&19million&hectares&or&the&equivalent&ofbetween&1.8&and&1.9&millionhectares&if&condensed&to&100%density),

Gully&erosion&(around&559&500&ha),

Sheet&erosion&(around&3.635million&ha),&and

Bush&encroachment&(this&has&notbeen&accurately&es4mated&yet&butcould&be&as&much&as&20&millionhectares).

Degraded&wetlands&(some&35%&ofwetlands&have&been&degraded&to&alesser&or&larger&extent)

Economic'Impacts'of'NaturalResource'Degrada7on

Reduced&produc*ve&poten*al&ofland&especially&in&the&form&of&grazing,ecotourism&(/nature&based),&energysources&and&building&materials,&mainlyin&rural&areas.Reduc*on&of&water&security&due&to;

Reduced&mean&annual&runoff&asa&result&of&invasive&alien&trees&inwatersheds,&wetlands&andriparian&areas,Increased&wet&season&flows(flooding)&due&to&reducedinfiltra*on&as&a&result&of&a&loss&ofvegeta*on&cover,

Economic'Impacts'ofNatural'ResourceDegrada7on'Cont.

Reduc&on)of)water)security)due)to;Reduced)dry)season)flows(droughts))due)to)reducedinfiltra&on)both)as)a)result)ofincreased)runoff)during)rainfallevents)and)on)the)other)end)of)thespectrum)the)impact)of)invasivealien)trees)in)watersheds,)riparianzones)and)wetlands.Increased)silta&on)of)waterinfrastructure)due)to)increasederosions)from)watersheds,)riverbanks)and)wetlands,

Economic'Impacts'of'NaturalResource'Degrada7on'cont.

Reduc&on)of)water)security)due)to;i. Decreased)recharge)of)groundwater)resources)due)to)increasedrunoff)during)wet)season)and)theimpact)of)invasive)alien)trees)onshallow)aquifers,))and

ii. Decreased)quality)of)water)dueto)unsustainable)landmanagement)prac&ces.

Nega&ve)impacts)on)the)carbonbalance)due)to;i. A)loss)in)above)ground)biomass,ii. Reduced)liAer)accumula&on,)andiii.A)reduc&on)in)soil)carbon.

3

2

14

MedupiDrylands1Project

Working1forForests

Sub1TropicalThicket

RestoraAon1ProgrammeWfW1Riparian

RestoraAonProgrammes

1.Opportunities in the Carbon

Market: Working for Ecosystemsin the Sub Tropical Thicket

Restoration Programme

Plan%ng'Spekboom'in'medium'degraded'landscapes

!!

Aboveground

!!

40!±!3!!!!!!!

7!±!1!!!

!!

Li4er!!!

11!±!1!!!!!!!

1!±!0.4!!!

!!

Roots!!!

25!±!1.3!!!!!!!

11!±!0.7!!!

!!

Soil!!!

133!±!27!!!!!!!

95!±!15!

and!falling?!

!!

Total!!!

209)±)28!!!!!!!

114)±)14!!!

t)C)ha01

Mills!et.$al.!(2005)Austral!Ecology

Impacts!of!deserJficaJon!on!the!carbon!balance

….#Comparing#measurements#in#a#grazed#area#without#a#thicket#canopyto#those#in#an#area#with#intact#thicket#cover,#…it#was#found#that#the#lossof#thicket#cover#had#resulted#in#an#extreme#change#in#soil#infiltra>onrates,#a#decrease#in#soil#moisture#reten>on,#an#increase#in#run?off,#andincrease#in#erosion.Despite'the'rela,vely'high'rainfall'intercep,on'rate'(roughly'40%)observed'for'spekboom'thicket,'the'differences'in'infiltra,on'morethan'compensated,'leading'to'greater'soil'moisture'beneath'intactthicket.

G.#van#Luijk#R.M.#Cowling#,M.J.P.M.#Riksen#,#J.Glenday(2013)

OvergrazingUnsustainable0fireregimes;Increased0CO20levelsfavouring0woodyspecies.

"

2."Impact"of"BushEncroachment"on

Livelihoods

Makapanstad)Project)vision!Makapanstad)Bush)Encroachment))Project!seek

to!enhance!community!life!by!implemen3ngprojects!that!will!protect)and)restore)thediminishing)natural)resources.!!It!is!envisagedthat!the!following!outcomes!will!be!achieved:1.The!development!of!a!framework!andregulatory)mechanisms)for)the)sustainableu=lisa=on)of)natural)resource.2.The!implementa3on!of!a!veld!fire!managementprogramme3.The!crea3on!of!a!genera=on)that)is)aware)ofits)environment)and)hence)ac=vely)involved)inits!protec3on!and!improvement.

Establishment,of,a,sustainable,enterprisethat$will$generate$income$from$le0overbiomass$from$the$control$of$bushencroachment$and$other$organic$waste.The,acquisi5on,of,the,necessary

knowledge,and,skills$by$members$of$thecommunity$for$the$protec9on$andimprovement$of$their$own$naturalenvironment.Increase,the,grazing,capacity$and$improve

some$essen9al$ecosystem$services$throughthe$control$of$Sickle$bush$for$the$directbenefit$of$communal$farmers.

Makapanstad,Project,vision,Cont.$

Result'of'Land'Degrada1on'InSavannah'Landscapes

Clearing)and)Stacking)of)Bush)EncroachmentSpecies)to)allow)Grass)Cover)to)Recover

Reversing)Bush)EncroachedLandscapes)In)Savannah)Landscapes

Soil%Carbon%in%Degraded%Rangelands%in%South%AfricaSnyman&%Du%Preez%(2005)

AAer%only%5%years%followingdegradaCon,%organic%C%wassignificantly%lower%(22.15%)over%the%first%50%mm%soil%layer…Du%Preez%&%Snyman%(2010)

The%organic%C%content%of%thesoil%under%the%three%veldcondiCons%differed%significantlydeclining%as%the%veld%condiCondegraded.%The%largestdifferences%were%measured%inthe%0–50%mm%layer%…

3.#Working#for#Forests1. …#promo4ng#the#conversionof#invading#alien#plant#standsinto#u4lizable#resources#forsustainable#forestry#land?useprac4ces.#

2. The#programme#seeks#tocapitalize#upon#the#invasivealien#species,#move#towardsspecies#that#will#replace#theinvasive#monoculture#standswith#a#diversity#of#speciescompa4ble#with#climatechange,#the#risk#of#diseases,promote#biodiversity#and#beless#vulnerable#to#wild#fires,

#

3.#Working#for#Forests#cont.

1. …#offer#scope#forsustainable#livelihoods#andop<mal#land>useprac<ces.#

#2. While#also#promo<ng#the

conserva<on#of#indigenousforests,#and#thesustainable#use#of#theresources#and#ecosystemservices#provided#by#theseforests.#

#

0

Fall%in%the%rate%of%afforesta0on

REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES

0

Supply'and'demand'of'so0wood'sawlogs

REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES

REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES

0

Forecast*of*the*average*annual*supply*anddemand*of*so6wood*sawlogs

Period Demand Supply AnnualShortage

PercentageShortage

2004-2008 5,546,800 4,040,470 1,506,330 27%

2009-2013 6,180,400 5,122,000 1,058,400 17%

2014-2018 6,857,000 5,269,750 1,587,250 23%

1019-2023 7,610,400 6,235,050 1,375,350 18%

2024-2028 8,450,200 5,781,950 2,668,250 32%

2029-2033 9,560,600 4,708,300 4,852,300 51%

Demand is based on a growth factor of 2½ %

Areas&with&Poten.al&for&Ar.ficial&ForestPoten.al&and&Indigenous&Forest&Restora.on.&

Dense%Stands%of%Acacia%mearnsiiconverted%to%woodlots.

4.#Riparian#ZoneRestora/onProjects

Large&Dams&–&Largely&filled&byflood&watersSmall%dams%–%highly

dependent%on%stream%flowespecially%dry%season/baseflows.Run%of%river%extrac>on%–

totally%dependent%on%streamflow%especially%dry%season/baseflows.Ground&Water&8&Dependent

op:mum&vegeta:on&cover&toensure&maximum&infiltra:on.

Types%of%Water%Extrac>on

Restoring*Watershed*ServicesFlows

Flood/high*flowsLow*FlowsYield*from*waterinfrastructureEcological*Reserve

SedimentsSilta=on*of*dams

Water*qualityPurifica=on*costsWaterweedmanagement*costsHealth*risks

• Acacia cyclops(Rooikrans)

• Acacia mearnsii (BlackWattle)

• Acacia saligna (PortJackson)

• Eucalyptus spp.

Mo#va#on'for'Conver#ng'Dense'Stands'of'Single'Species'InvasiveAlien'Trees'to'Mul#'Species'Riparian'Thicket'Where'Appropriate

' '

TreatmentTreatment

First Year Increase inFirst Year Increase inStreamflow after TreatmentStreamflow after Treatment(m(m33/ha cleared)/ha cleared)

Ratio ofRatio ofRiparian/Non-Riparian/Non-Riparian IncreaseRiparian Increase

Westfalia(Limpopo)

Clear riparianindigenous forest

5 445 2.0

Clear non-riparianindigenous forest

2 700

Witklip(Mpumal.)

Clear riparian scrub& pines

7 965 1.9

Clear non-riparianpines

4 045

Biesievlei(W Cape)

Clear riparian pines 11 505 3.4 Clear non-riparian

pines3 430

RIPARIAN&VERSUS&NON,RIPARIAN&STREAM&FLOW&REDUCTION

Preliminary*Es-mate*of*the*Impact*of*Invasive*Alien*Trees*inRivers*and*Mountain*Catchments*on*Registered*Water*Use

• Current'4%• If'le-'unchecked'it'willincrease'to'more'than'16%

*• If*Chromoleana*and*Lantanauses*what*the*ini-alresearch*results*show*thiscould*be*significantly*more

Cullis*et*al*2006

Bank%erosion%exposed%immediately%a2er%the%clearing%of%Acaciamearnsii*from%the%riparian%zone

Healthy(Riparian(Thicket(with(indigenous(Acacia,&Olea(and(Rhus&spp.(andhealthy(undergrowth.

!•Health•Educa-on•Crime•Employment•RuralDevelopment

!Mainstreaming!Natural!Resource!Management!into!Socio:

Poli-cal!Priori-es

• Government*and*SouthAfrican*Business*Leadershave*agreed*that*5*millionjobs*need*to*be*created.

• 75%*of*these*should*be*inthe*private*sector*(3.75million)*and

• 25%*through*governmentprogrammes*(1.25*million)

*Medium*Term*Employment*Needs

The$programme$grew$rapidlyfrom$a$budget'of'US$5'million(ini3ally'secured'as'a'once9offgrant'from$the$Reconstruc7onand)$Development$Programmeby$Prof$Kader$Asmal,Currently$operates$in$all$nine

provinces$on$a$budget$of$aroundUS$180'million'in'2014/15,'andEmploys$around$50'000'people.The$programme$moved$to$the

Department$of$EnvironmentalAffairs$in$the$2011/12$financialyear,$where$its$mandate'wasformally'broadened'to'addressall'broader'na3onal'resourcemanagement'objec3ves

Some'Socio9EconomicSta3s3cs

Interven'ons* Needed* for* the* development* of* natural* resourcemanagement* and* investments* in* natural* infrastructure* and* ecosystemservices*sector

Primary*ecological*research*onthe*impacts*of*land*management(including*invasive*alien*species)on*the*quality*and*quan'ty*ofecosystem*services*andbiodiversity*(e.g.*invasive*alienplants,*overgrazing,*fire,consump've*harves'ng*of*fibreetc.).Transla'on*of*the*results*from*1

above*into*its*economic*and*socialconsequences.Based*on*the*outcomes*of*1*&*2

above*the*priori'za'on*ofgovernment*investments*inecosystem*services*and*therestora'on*of*natural

Interven'ons*Needed*for*the*development*of*natural*resourcemanagement*and*investments*in*natural*infrastructure*and*ecosystemservices*sector*cont.

Development*of*op'mumins'tu'onal*arrangements*toop'mize*Departmental(government)*investment*andmaximize*private*sector*and*otherinvestments*in*ecosystem*servicesand*natural*infrastructure.Development*of*a*governance

pla>orm*for*the*development*of*thesector*and*legisla'on*to*regulate*ands'mulate*the*market*(e.g.*NEMDAinvasive*species*regula'ons,*waterpricing*strategy,*carbon*taxes*etc.)Development*of*advocacy*and

extension*service*to*introduce*thebuyers*&*sellers*of*ecosystemservices*to*one*another*and

Thank&You!!