Agroforestry: Growing a Sustainable Future

At the heart of the Save the Sand project is our innovative agroforestry initiative, designed to restore the landscape while providing sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

We are planting 3.5 million indigenous agroforestry trees across the Sabie-Sand River Catchment, creating a mosaic of productive, biodiverse landscapes that sequester carbon and support local economies.

Our Approach

Our agroforestry initiative implements diverse systems carefully tailored to the unique characteristics and needs of different land uses within the Sabie-Sand River Catchment.

This targeted approach ensures optimal benefits for both the environment and local communities. By tailoring our agroforestry approaches to these specific land uses, we're creating a diverse, productive, and resilient landscape that benefits both people and nature in the Sabie-Sand River Catchment.

  • In agricultural areas, we're integrating trees with existing crops to create multifunctional landscapes. Our approach includes:

    • Alley Cropping: Planting rows of trees or shrubs (such as Marula or Apple-leaf) between crops, creating alleys for cultivation.

    • Boundary Planting: Establishing tree lines along field borders using species like Acacia nigrescens or Combretum imberbe.

    • Multi-story Systems: Creating vertical layers of vegetation by combining tall trees, shorter trees, shrubs, and ground-level crops. This mimics natural forest structures.

    • We're planting approximately 200 trees per hectare in croplands, carefully selected and positioned to complement existing agricultural activities.

  • Around homes and in community spaces, we're establishing fruit and nut tree gardens. This system focuses on:

    • Shade Provision: Planting large-canopy trees like African Fig or Mango near buildings.

    • Food Security: Incorporating a diverse range of fruit trees (e.g., Citrus species, Avocado) and nut trees (e.g., Macadamia)

    • Medicinal and Cultural Plants: Including indigenous species with traditional uses, such as Marula.

    • Living Fences: Using dense-growing trees and shrubs to create natural boundaries

    • In residential areas, we're planting an average of 50 trees per hectare, balancing the benefits of tree cover with the need for open spaces and existing structures.

  • In grazing areas, we're implementing silvopasture – the intentional combination of trees, forage plants, and livestock. Our approach includes:

    • Scattered Tree Plantings: Introducing individual trees or small clusters throughout pastures using species like Acacia nigrescens or Philenoptera violacea. Fodder Banks: Establishing dense plantings of protein-rich tree species (e.g., Leucaena leucocephala).

    • Riparian Buffers: Planting trees along waterways with species like Ficus sycomorus to:

    • Rotational Grazing: Implementing a system of paddocks with tree components to:

    • In rangelands, we're targeting an average of 100 trees per hectare, carefully balancing tree cover with open grazing areas to maintain and enhance pasture productivity.

Indigenous and Productive Species

Our tree selection focuses on species that are both ecologically appropriate and economically valuable. Some key species include:

  • Marula (Sclerocarya birrea)

  • African Fig (Ficus sycomorus)

  • Apple-leaf (Philenoptera violacea)

  • Macadamia

  • Mango

  • Avocado

  • Various citrus species

These trees not only contribute to carbon sequestration but also provide fruits, nuts, and other products that can be harvested sustainably, creating new income streams for local communities.

Carbon Credit Methodology

Our project utilizes the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) VM0047 Methodology for Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR). This cutting-edge methodology allows us to:

  1. Accurately quantify carbon sequestration from our agroforestry activities.

  2. Use a combination of area-based and census-based approaches to monitor tree growth and carbon stocks.

  3. Generate high-quality, verifiable carbon credits that meet international standards.

By following VM0047, we ensure that our carbon credits are robust, credible, and truly represent the climate benefits of our agroforestry work.

Community Beneficiaries

Local communities are at the center of our agroforestry efforts. We provide:

  • Comprehensive training in agroforestry techniques

  • Ongoing support and mentorship

  • Access to high-quality seedlings and planting materials

  • Assistance in developing markets for agroforestry products

Through these efforts, we're not just planting trees – we're growing sustainable livelihoods and building community resilience.

Environmental Benefits

Beyond carbon sequestration, our agroforestry initiative delivers numerous environmental benefits:

  • Improved soil health and reduced erosion

  • Enhanced water retention and quality

  • Increased biodiversity and habitat connectivity

  • Climate change adaptation and resilience

Looking Forward

As we progress towards our goal of 3.5 million trees, we're constantly refining our approaches, learning from our experiences, and scaling up our impact.

Our agroforestry initiative is a cornerstone of the Save the Sand project, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can address climate change, support local economies, and restore degraded landscapes.