R3G’s MISSION
To evaluate the most cost-effective way of restoring degraded ecosystems, while ensuring opportunities for social upliftment.
Once restored, ecosystems provide increased carbon storage, enhanced soil quality and stability, improved quality of river water, increased base water flows, reduced siltation of dams, and the return of biodiversity that was present prior to degradation.
R3G – the organisation
R3G comprises a group of scientists whose strength lies in a unique partnership between scientific expertise with the funding provided by the Department of Natural Resource Management Programmes (NRMP) of the Department of Environmental Affairs and the practical implementation by the Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB). The NRMP forms part of the DEA’s contribution to the South African governments’ Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) aimed at alleviating poverty by providing additional work opportunities coupled with skills training.
These scientists are based at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Stellenbosch University and Rhodes University. While R3G’s primary partner is the NRMP, it also works with the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Working for Wetlands Programme, and the World Wide Fund-South Africa (WWF). The Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB) is the implementing agency for all of this work, and has an excellent track record for managing this challenging work under often extremely trying conditions.
R3G ACTIVITIES AND CORE PROJECTS
R3G’s interests focus primarily on the subtropical thicket biome, riparian fynbos, coastal subtropical forests and coastal dunefields of the Eastern Cape.
By monitoring and evaluating restoration projects, R3G is developing best practice protocols in a range of activities. These include :
- the replanting of spekboom or igwanishe (Portulacaria afra) cuttings in degraded thicket sites (see Core Project : Spekboom restoration; also the pamphlet “Investing in Sustainability”; Restoration of spekboom and the carbon market info sheet; Carbon farming; History of spekboom restoration),
- the removal of water-thirsty alien trees from water catchments followed by rehabilitation of eroded riversides (see Core Project : Kouga Riparian Rehabilitation),
- restoring coastal forests (see Core Project :Matiwane Forest Restoration),
- restoring coastal dunes by removal of invasive alien shrubs and growing dekriet (see Core Project : Coastal dune restoration).
These interventions not only improve the environment and its ability to deliver ecosystem services, but also provide opportunities for skills development. R3G is investigating the prospects of generating earnings through a variety of credits, for example water and biodiversity credits. In particular, R3G has evidence that restored and recovering thicket vegetation actively stores carbon at a relatively rapid rate, which makes it an excellent candidate for trade in the international carbon market resulting from the Kyoto Protocol developed in response to global warming. Investigations are also underway to determine the potential for restoration of coastal forests in the former Transkei.
An understanding of socio-economic factors will enable appropriate recommendations in the development of mechanisms to use Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) markets and the incentives that flow from these markets. Further aims are to build capacity and to communicate outcomes in order to encourage state and private initiation of restoration projects. The objective is to use carbon sequestration credits to assist in providing a medium-term solution to poverty in the rural economy of the Eastern Cape.
Investing in Sustainability
Investing in Sustainability - Restoring degraded thicket, capturing carbon and earning green credit.
Click here to access the booklet