South Africa Grassland Management Project

Coupled with increasing average temperatures and declining rainfall, these vulnerable grassland ecosystems are experiencing erosion and loss of soil and soil organic carbon, reduced water retention and filtration capacity, and reduced agricultural productivity (for herds managed on these properties).

These degraded ecosystems are becoming much less climate-resilient, are more vulnerable to drought and take longer to recover from these events. This consequently impacts ongoing agricultural productivity, economic growth and food security for communities that depend on the food and fibre generated in these regions

To reach sufficient scale this project takes an aggregated approach, initially working with multiple landholders across 90,000 hectares of grassland in South Africa Drakensburg region, supported by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Conservation Outcomes as an implementation partner.

Specific grassland management activities will include:

• planned grazing and controlled burning activities that increase the rest and rotation on pastures above baseline (business-as-usual) practices;
• Fencing off smaller pastures with more livestock rotations, which allow the recovery of perennial grasses, which foster greater carbon inputs, higher retention of carbon as lignin and cellulose, and greater belowground production.

This project also results in a range of environmental, social and economic co-benefits that contribute to the achievement of seven Sustainable Development Goals within South Africa. These positive impacts include restoration and conservation of some of South Africa’s most biodiverse grassland ecosystems; protection of vulnerable and endangered native flora and fauna species; supporting farmer livelihoods, land stewardship and agricultural productivity; and supporting South Africa’s increased climate resilience.

Climate Action

This project currently sequesters 246,773 tonnes of greenhouse gasses each year, across 90,000 hectares of perennial grasslands in eastern region of South Africa.

Environmental Impacts

This project helps to create resilient ecosystems with increased drought resilience, improved erosion control, reduced fire risk and better control of invasive species. The project also conserves and restores critical grassland biodiversity, and helps protect several endangered and vulnerable species including the Blue Crane, Grey Crowned Crane, Wattled Crane, Oribi, Sungazer Lizard, Blue Swallow, Golden Mole, Riverina Rabbit and Karoo Tortoise.

Community & Economic Development

This project supports agricultural livelihoods, and contributes to the health and wellbeing of rural communities in eastern South Africa. More specifically this project provides farmers and landholders with income diversification opportunities, increased productivity, local education and training, and supporting direct and indirect jobs in the region.