Khoinania Forest Restoration Project

Private landowners have cleared large patches of invasive vegetation threatening the forest edge of the Tsitsikamma National Park in Nature’s Valley, South Africa. The aim is to strengthen these edges by restoring invaded areas with indigenous tree species to facilitate forest growth and reduce the impact of alien vegetation on biodiversity.

Conservation Problem Statement

The long-term aim of this project is to clear alien invasive species and reforest large portions of the property with incrementally staged plantings in order to create a band of indigenous trees along the property’s edge, expanding the forest fringe and restoring the land to a more dynamic state of biodiversity. Based on previous planting experience on this property, as well as through knowledge of indigenous forests, interventions started on this site through alien vegetation management to clear the site of invasive Black wattles. Due to the adverse soil conditions created by the alien vegetation on-site, swales will be reconstructed to assist in water catchment and infiltration and a strong focus will be placed on planting fast-growing pioneer species, such as Keurboom (Virgillia oroboides), that have proven very successful within the larger project at Khoinania. Roughly 60-70% of the trees to be planted, will be Keurboom, to promote shade and environmental protection for slower-growing species. After planting, AVM will continue to reduce the resurgence of invasive species, and pioneer species will be managed accordingly (through “skirt-raising” or chopping-and-dropping”) to facilitate the successful establishment and growth of other planted species.

Project Target Area

Khoinania Farm

The project sites are located on Khoinania Farm just outside of Plettenberg Bay, bordering the Tsitsikamma National Park.

Restoration Approach

Greenpop’s proposed solution to the problem of forest degradation is to assist in restoring forest ecosystem function and biodiversity through reforestation. Therefore, this project utilises the Forest Landscape Restoration approach, which is the ongoing process of regaining ecological functionality and enhancing human well-being across deforested or degraded forest landscapes. FLR is more than just planting trees – it is restoring a whole landscape to meet present and future needs and to offer multiple benefits and land uses over time.

Funding and implementation of actions to restore degraded areas will eventually lead to improved forest management and associated co-benefits, such as :

• Biodiversity conservation through increasing habitat availability for forest-dependent species
• Increased soil stability and health
• Improved water regulation
• Increased Carbon sequestration
• Economic benefits derived through eco-tourism and sustained forest productivity

Activities

1. Alien Vegetation Management:
Selected areas are cleared of alien vegetation and prepared for planting. This cleared vegetation is chipped and used as mulch to increase water retention and add biomass to the soil.

2. Tree Planting:
A successional planting approach is utilised to plant groups of trees within swales. After trees are planted, maintenance and watering are carried out as needed to ensure the greatest chance of survival.

Tree Species

• Vepris lanceolata - White Ironwood
• Olea capensis - Black ironwood
• Gymnosporia buxifolia - Common Spike Thorn
• Afrocarpus falcatus - Outeniqua Yellowwood
• Kiggelaria africana - Wild Peach
• Virgilia oroboides - Keurboom
• Maytenus acuminata - Silky bark
• Mystroxylon aethiopicum - Kooboo-Berry
• Polygala myrtifolia - September bush
• Olea europaea subs. africana - Wild Olive
• Podocarpus latifolius - Real Yellowwood
• Bauhinia galpinii - Pride of the Cape
• Buddleja salviifolia - Sagewood
• Rhamnus prinoides - Dogwood
• Podocarpus henkelii - Henkel's Yellowwood
• Searsia chiridensis - Red currant
• Rapanea melanphloeos - Cape Beech
• Pittosporum - Cheesewood
• Apodytes dimidiata - White pear
• Pterocelastrus tricuspidatus - Candlewood
• Grewia occidentalis - Cross-berry
• Scutia myrtina - Cat Thorn
• Trimeria grandifolia - Wild mulberry
• Ekebergia capensis - Cape Ash
• Harpephyllum caffrum - Wild Plum
• Sparrmannia africana - African Hemp
• Tarchonanthus camphoratus - Wild Camphor bush
• Halleria lucida - Tree Fuschia
• Burchellia bubalina - Wild pomegranate
• Clutia pulchella - Lightning bush
• Elaeodendron croceum - Common Saffron
• Otholobium bracteatum - Strand Dottypea
• Searsia crenata - Dune crowberry
• Indigofera frutescens - River indigo
• Canthium inerme - Turkey-berry
• Calodendrum capense - Cape chestnut
• Cussonia spicata - Cabbage tree
• Rothmannia globosa - Bell gardenia
• Diopsyrus Glabra - Blue-Berry Bush
• Diospyros dichrolhylla - Poison star-apple
• Ficus sure - Broom cluster fig
• Dais cotinifolia - Pom-Pom
• Nuxia floribunda - Forest elder

Project Outcomes

1. The amount of alien vegetation is reduced.
2. Forest land use, in terms of forest growth, quality, density and management is improved.
3. Available water quantity is increased.
4. Climate change mitigation is increased.
5. Tree species biodiversity is increased.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is conducted each Spring (September), with baseline assessments conducted before the implementation of project activities. M&E for this project includes the following:

1. Vegetation Growth and Health Monitoring
2. Vegetation Cover Monitoring
3. Fixed-point Photography

No. of hectares under restoration: 1.37
No. of trees planted: 4,220

For more information on our work, visit:
www.greenpop.org

For more information on Khoinania Farm, visit:
www.wildspiritlodge.co.za