Enviro News Asia, South Africa — Efforts to restore degraded landscapes in South Africa’s Eastern Cape are gaining momentum through the use of spekboom, a native plant widely recognized for its ecological and climate benefits.
The initiative is taking place across the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, where conservation groups, researchers, and local communities are working together to rehabilitate degraded thicket ecosystems. The restoration movement aims to revive around 800,000 hectares of damaged land by 2030, improving biodiversity while strengthening climate resilience and local livelihoods.
At the center of the effort is spekboom, scientifically known as Portulacaria afra. The plant is often called a “miracle plant” because of its ability to store water, resist drought and fire, prevent soil erosion, and capture significant amounts of carbon.
The restoration work is also visible at the Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, a 30,000-hectare wildlife reserve along the Great Fish River. Rangers like Doc Ndyawe monitor endangered wildlife such as black rhinos while also observing the impact of restoration activities in the surrounding landscape.
Spekboom plays a critical ecological role in restoring thicket ecosystems. As the plant grows, its branches spread close to the ground, trapping leaf litter that enriches soil nutrients and improves water infiltration. Its roots help rainwater penetrate deeper into the soil, strengthening the ecosystem’s resilience during droughts.
According to ecologists, only about 10 percent of the region’s original thicket vegetation remains intact due to decades of overgrazing, invasive plant species, and prolonged drought. Restoration initiatives therefore focus heavily on planting spekboom cuttings to rebuild vegetation cover and stabilize soils.
The restoration drive has also created new economic opportunities for local communities. Nurseries and planting programs employ local residents to grow spekboom seedlings and carry out large-scale planting projects. One initiative near Jansenville trains community members to cultivate and plant the shrubs, helping generate employment in areas affected by poverty and high unemployment.
These efforts have received international recognition through the United Nations Environment Programme as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The restoration movement in the Eastern Cape has been named a World Restoration Flagship for its contribution to ecosystem recovery and community development.
Experts say the benefits of spekboom extend beyond environmental restoration. The plant can provide fodder for livestock during dry periods, support wildlife habitats, and contribute to carbon sequestration projects designed to offset emissions.
Large-scale restoration programs are also attracting investment through nature-based financing. Some projects aim to restore tens of thousands of hectares while capturing millions of tons of carbon over the coming decades.
Researchers and conservationists hope that these efforts will eventually reconnect fragmented habitats across the region. By restoring thicket ecosystems, wildlife such as elephants, rhinos, and big cats may once again move more freely across the landscape. (*)
