Steven Davids, Skeppies, Monitoring Report 2, South Africa

1. 1
Example of a Photo Report. Used with permission from SALT (South African Large Telescope).
WHERE AND WHAT IS SALT AND PROJECT?

2. 2
PEOPLE EMPLOYED
The two people employed by the project. Mr. Van Wyk left and Mr. True on the right.

3. 3
What they do
Restoration is progressing in stages. Firstly. Restoration starts of with cropping (softening or plowing of the
land). Most of the area to be restored is already cropped. Cropping was done using a tractor. A small section
down hill, around 20% (?), was not cropped during the site visit.

4. 4
Secondly. After cropping stones are collected and packed. 20% (?) of the area was packed with stones.

5. 5
Thirdly. Organic material from ant heaps are collected and used as natural compost. Above is some of the
natural compost.

6. 6
During the site visit the two people employed by the project were throwing the compost on the area under
restoration. Presently seed is being planted at another location and will then be planted during the final stages
of the restoration.

7. 7
Above are some of the seeds from various species the employees collected. Seed are collected. 50% of the
seeds stored in paper envelopes and kepts on site. The other 50% is being planted in a nursery to be used later
for the restoration.

8. 8
Non destructive and in partnership of greater
program
Stones were collected in such a way as not to create destruction. This path was built and the stones used in the
SALT land restoration project. The SALT land restoration project was done in partnership with the
community who built this foot path. This hiking trail forms part of a broader initiative of SALT.

9. 9
Helping the environment while creating
entrepreneurs
The employees are documenting the biodiversity found on the SALT premises as part of the project. Above is
the form they use to record where the plants occur.

10. 10
Above is their record of the different plant species that occur on the premises.

11. 11
The project nurture an entrepreneurial spirit. Above is a book one of the employees, True, got on his own from
the department of agriculture to enhance his knowledge. The employees want more books, but funds for that
are lacking.

12. 12
Above are some of the plant experiments the two conducted on their own. Seed were sown in these halved
containers to see which seed grows first.

13. 13
The employees have the basic tools to do the work. Above are the tools bought from the project

14. 14
Necessary fencing was bought and will be put up when the time is right

15. 15
Safety
goggles
Warm
clothing for
harsh winter
Protection against snakes
Safety boots
The workers themselves are looked well after in terms of their safety.

16. 16
There are challenges
The project experience some unforeseen challenges that boiled down to an unplanned increase in the budget.
The cheaper mechanical means off cropping could only be done to the area on the left the line. The reason was
that the tractor was ripping out the sewerage pipes. The area on the right will have to be done with picks using
manual labor.

17. 17
Vehicle
Tracks
Another setback was that some contractors drove over the cropped area with their vehicles. This means that the
work will have to be done over because the soil is now compacted again.

18. 18
The area that needs to be rehabilitated in winter. Sutherland is the coldest place in South Africa.

19. 19
Extreme weather conditions contributed to the longer than expected time it took to do work. Warnings on the
inside of the door leading to the area outside of the telescope warn people of the extreme weather conditions.

20. 20
THERE ARE RESULTS
Even at this stage the project has very small signs that the rehabilitation process is successful. Pioneer plants are
already appearing.