1. Landscapes)and)restora-on:)Rehabilita-ng)landscapes,)restora-on)and
resilience)in)the)face)of)new)and)emerging)challenges)–)restoring)tree
diversity;)some)insights)into)the)Natural)Resource)Management
Programmes)in)South)Africa.
Christo(Marais:(Department(of(Environmental(Affairs(South(Africa
Environmental(Programmes
)))))))

2. Presenta(on*Overview
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.

3. Mainstreaming+investments+in+natural/ecological+infrastructure+and+the
delivery+of+ecosystem+services.
+

4. Overview'of'Land'Use'in'South'Africa
!

5. “Over&simplified”&Spectrum&of&Degrada8on
Courtesy)Prof:)Rudi)van)Aarde
Bush Encroachments Desertification & Invasives
Courtesy)Prof:)Rudi)van)Aarde

6. Extent&of&Natural&Resource
Degrada4on&in&South&Africa
Alien&plant&invasions&(around&19
million&hectares&or&the&equivalent&of
between&1.8&and&1.9&million
hectares&if&condensed&to&100%
density),
Gully&erosion&(around&559&500&ha),
Sheet&erosion&(around&3.635
million&ha),&and
Bush&encroachment&(this&has&not
been&accurately&es4mated&yet&but
could&be&as&much&as&20&million
hectares).
Degraded&wetlands&(some&35%&of
wetlands&have&been&degraded&to&a
lesser&or&larger&extent)

7. Economic'Impacts'of'Natural
Resource'Degrada7on
Reduced&produc*ve&poten*al&of
land&especially&in&the&form&of&grazing,
ecotourism&(/nature&based),&energy
sources&and&building&materials,&mainly
in&rural&areas.
Reduc*on&of&water&security&due&to;
Reduced&mean&annual&runoff&as
a&result&of&invasive&alien&trees&in
watersheds,&wetlands&and
riparian&areas,
Increased&wet&season&flows
(flooding)&due&to&reduced
infiltra*on&as&a&result&of&a&loss&of
vegeta*on&cover,

8. Economic'Impacts'of
Natural'Resource
Degrada7on'Cont.
Reduc&on)of)water)security)due)to;
Reduced)dry)season)flows
(droughts))due)to)reduced
infiltra&on)both)as)a)result)of
increased)runoff)during)rainfall
events)and)on)the)other)end)of)the
spectrum)the)impact)of)invasive
alien)trees)in)watersheds,)riparian
zones)and)wetlands.
Increased)silta&on)of)water
infrastructure)due)to)increased
erosions)from)watersheds,)river
banks)and)wetlands,

9. Economic'Impacts'of'Natural
Resource'Degrada7on'cont.
Reduc&on)of)water)security)due)to;
i. Decreased)recharge)of)ground
water)resources)due)to)increased
runoff)during)wet)season)and)the
impact)of)invasive)alien)trees)on
shallow)aquifers,))and
ii. Decreased)quality)of)water)due
to)unsustainable)land
management)prac&ces.
Nega&ve)impacts)on)the)carbon
balance)due)to;
i. A)loss)in)above)ground)biomass,
ii. Reduced)liAer)accumula&on,)and
iii.A)reduc&on)in)soil)carbon.

11. 3
2
1
4
Medupi
Drylands1Project
Working1for
Forests
Sub1Tropical
Thicket
RestoraAon
WfW1Riparian 1Programme
RestoraAon
Programmes

12. 1.
Opportunities in the Carbon
Market: Working for Ecosystems
in the Sub Tropical Thicket
Restoration Programme

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

14. Impacts!of!deserJficaJon!on!the!carbon!balance
!
!
Above
ground
!!
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

15. G.#van#Luijk#R.M.#Cowling#,
M.J.P.M.#Riksen#,#J.
Glenday(2013)
….#Comparing#measurements#in#a#grazed#area#without#a#thicket#canopy
to#those#in#an#area#with#intact#thicket#cover,#…it#was#found#that#the#loss
of#thicket#cover#had#resulted#in#an#extreme#change#in#soil#infiltra>on
rates,#a#decrease#in#soil#moisture#reten>on,#an#increase#in#run?off,#and
increase#in#erosion.
Despite'the'rela,vely'high'rainfall'intercep,on'rate'(roughly'40%)
observed'for'spekboom'thicket,'the'differences'in'infiltra,on'more
than'compensated,'leading'to'greater'soil'moisture'beneath'intact
thicket.

16. Overgrazing
Unsustainable0fire
regimes;
Increased0CO20levels
favouring0woody
species.
"
2."Impact"of"Bush
Encroachment"on
Livelihoods

17. Makapanstad)Project)vision
Makapanstad)Bush)Encr!oachment))Project!seek
to!enhance!community!life!by!implemen3ng
projects!that!will!protect)and)restore)the
diminishing)natural)resources.!!It!is!envisaged
that!the!following!outcomes!will!be!achieved:
1.The!development!of!a!framework!and
regulatory)mechanisms)for)the)sustainable
u=lisa=on)of)natural)resource.
2.The!implementa3on!of!a!veld!fire!management
programme
3.The!crea3on!of!a!genera=on)that)is)aware)of
its)environment)and)hence)ac=vely)involved)in
its!protec3on!and!improvement.

18. Makapanstad,Project,vision,Cont.
$
Establishment,of,a,sustainable,enterprise
that$will$generate$income$from$le0over
biomass$from$the$control$of$bush
encroachment$and$other$organic$waste.
The,acquisi5on,of,the,necessary
knowledge,and,skills$by$members$of$the
community$for$the$protec9on$and
improvement$of$their$own$natural
environment.
Increase,the,grazing,capacity$and$improve
some$essen9al$ecosystem$services$through
the$control$of$Sickle$bush$for$the$direct
benefit$of$communal$farmers.

19. Result'of'Land'Degrada1on'In
Savannah'Landscapes

20. Clearing)and)Stacking)of)Bush)Encroachment
Species)to)allow)Grass)Cover)to)Recover

21. Reversing)Bush)Encroached
Landscapes)In)Savannah)Landscapes

22. Soil%Carbon%in%Degraded%Rangelands%in%South%Africa
Snyman&%Du%Preez%(2005)
AAer%only%5%years%following
degradaCon,%organic%C%was
significantly%lower%(22.15%)
over%the%first%50%mm%soil%layer
…
Du%Preez%&%Snyman%(2010)
The%organic%C%content%of%the
soil%under%the%three%veld
condiCons%differed%significantly
declining%as%the%veld%condiCon
degraded.%The%largest
differences%were%measured%in
the%0–50%mm%layer%…

23. 3.#Working#for#Forest1s. …#promo4ng#the#conversion
of#invading#alien#plant#stands
into#u4lizable#resources#for
sustainable#forestry#land?use
prac4ces.#
2. The#programme#seeks#to
capitalize#upon#the#invasive
alien#species,#move#towards
species#that#will#replace#the
invasive#monoculture#stands
with#a#diversity#of#species
compa4ble#with#climate
change,#the#risk#of#diseases,
promote#biodiversity#and#be
less#vulnerable#to#wild#fires,
#

24. 3.#Working#for#Forests#cont.
1. …#offer#scope#for
sustainable#livelihoods#and
op<mal#land>use
prac<ces.#
#
2. While#also#promo<ng#the
conserva<on#of#indigenous
forests,#and#the
sustainable#use#of#the
resources#and#ecosystem
services#provided#by#these
forests.#
#

25. 0
Fall%in%the%rate%of%afforesta0on
REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES

26. 0
Supply'and'demand'of'so0wood'sawlogs
REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES

27. REF: CRICKMAY & ASSOCIATES
0
Forecast*of*the*average*annual*supply*and
demand*of*so6wood*sawlogs
Period Demand Supply Annual
Shortage
Percentage
Shortage
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 %

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

29. Dense%Stands%of%Acacia%mearnsii
converted%to%woodlots.

30. 4.#Riparian#Zone
Restora/on
Projects

31. Types%of%Water%Extrac>on
Large&Dams&–&Largely&filled&by
flood&waters
Small%dams%–%highly
dependent%on%stream%flow
especially%dry%season/base
flows.
Run%of%river%extrac>on%–
totally%dependent%on%stream
flow%especially%dry%season/base
flows.
Ground&Water&8&Dependent
op:mum&vegeta:on&cover&to
ensure&maximum&infiltra:on.

32. Restoring*Watershed*Services
Flows
Flood/high*flows
Low*Flows
Yield*from*water
infrastructure
Ecological*Reserve
Sediments
Silta=on*of*dams
Water*quality
Purifica=on*costs
Waterweed
management*costs
Health*risks

33. • Acacia cyclops
(Rooikrans)
• Acacia mearnsii (Black
Wattle)
• Acacia saligna (Port
Jackson)
• Eucalyptus spp.

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

35. RIPARIAN&VERSUS&NON,RIPARIAN&STREAM&FLOW&REDUCTION
Trreeattmeentt
Fiirrsstt Yeearr IInccrreeassee iin
Sttrreeamfflloow afftteerr Trreeattmeentt
((m3/ha cclleearreed))
Rattiioo ooff
Riiparriian/Noon--
Riiparriian IInccrreeassee
Westfalia
(Limpopo)
Clear riparian
indigenous forest
5 445
2.0
Clear non-riparian
indigenous forest
2 700
Witklip
(Mpumal.)
Clear riparian scrub
& pines
7 965
1.9
Clear non-riparian
pines
4 045
Biesievlei
(W Cape)
Clear riparian pines 11 505
3.4
Clear non-riparian
pines
3 430

36. Preliminary*Es-mate*of*the*Impact*of*Invasive*Alien*Trees*in
Rivers*and*Mountain*Catchments*on*Registered*Water*Use
• Current'4%
• If'le-'unchecked'it'will
increase'to'more'than'16%
*
• If*Chromoleana*and*Lantana
uses*what*the*ini-al
research*results*show*this
could*be*significantly*more
Cullis*et*al*2006

37. Bank%erosion%exposed%immediately%a2er%the%clearing%of%Acacia
mearnsii*from%the%riparian%zone

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

39. Mainstreaming!Natural!Resource!Management!into!Socio:
!
•Health
•Educa-on
•Crime
•Employment
•Rural
Development
Poli-cal!Priori-es
!

40. Medium*Term*Em* ployment*Needs
• Government*and*South
African*Business*Leaders
have*agreed*that*5*million
jobs*need*to*be*created.
• 75%*of*these*should*be*in
the*private*sector*(3.75
million)*and
• 25%*through*government
programmes*(1.25*million)

41. The$programme$grew$rapidly
from$a$budget'of'US$5'million
(ini3ally'secured'as'a'once9off
grant'from$the$Reconstruc7on
and)$Development$Programme
by$Prof$Kader$Asmal,
Currently$operates$in$all$nine
provinces$on$a$budget$of$around
US$180'million'in'2014/15,'and
Employs$around$50'000'people.
The$programme$moved$to$the
Department$of$Environmental
Affairs$in$the$2011/12$financial
year,$where$its$mandate'was
formally'broadened'to'address
all'broader'na3onal'resource
management'objec3ves
Some'Socio9Economic
Sta3s3cs

42. Interven'ons* Needed* for* the* development* of* natural* resource
management* and* investments* in* natural* infrastructure* and* ecosystem
services*sector
Primary*ecological*research*on
the*impacts*of*land*management
(including*invasive*alien*species)
on*the*quality*and*quan'ty*of
ecosystem*services*and
biodiversity*(e.g.*invasive*alien
plants,*overgrazing,*fire,
consump've*harves'ng*of*fibre
etc.).
Transla'on*of*the*results*from*1
above*into*its*economic*and*social
consequences.
Based*on*the*outcomes*of*1*&*2
above*the*priori'za'on*of
government*investments*in
ecosystem*services*and*the
restora'on*of*natural

43. Interven'ons*Needed*for*the*development*of*natural*resource
management*and*investments*in*natural*infrastructure*and*ecosystem
services*sector*cont.
Development*of*op'mum
ins'tu'onal*arrangements*to
op'mize*Departmental
(government)*investment*and
maximize*private*sector*and*other
investments*in*ecosystem*services
and*natural*infrastructure.
Development*of*a*governance
pla>orm*for*the*development*of*the
sector*and*legisla'on*to*regulate*and
s'mulate*the*market*(e.g.*NEMDA
invasive*species*regula'ons,*water
pricing*strategy,*carbon*taxes*etc.)
Development*of*advocacy*and
extension*service*to*introduce*the
buyers*&*sellers*of*ecosystem
services*to*one*another*and

44. Thank&You!!