**In south-west China, in the mountainous province of Guizhou, Reforest'Action and Hennessy are carrying out a project to restore forest ecosystems on degraded land, for the benefit of the villagers living nearby. In addition to restoring the area's ecological properties, the project is generating a real socio-economic impact by helping to improve the livelihoods of rural and traditional populations. Since spring 2022, more than 867,000 trees of diverse species have been planted to support the regeneration of a forest ecosystem in an area subject to rocky desertification. This is one of two projects financed in China by Maison Hennessy, Reforest'Action's first contributor since 2020, as part of its “Forest Destination program”.** 

![DSC06247_yk.jpg](/uploads/DSC_06247_yk_8e765fd694.jpg)

China's history has left its mark on the Guizhou landscape, or "precious land" in Chinese. Since 1958, the Great Leap Forward under Maoism, accompanied by a massive wave of migration, led to massive deforestation in favor of agricultural production and mining. In the 1980s, Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms only accelerated the clearing of new land and the impoverishment of the soil. Demographically, Guizhou is one of China's most diverse provinces, comprising many different ethnic groups, but it is also one of the country's poorest regions. Indeed, its extremely rocky and karst topography hinders economic development and makes agricultural production more difficult.

Despite the province's recent economic development, due in particular to the construction of a modern transport network and the growth of tourism, the restoration of forest ecosystems remains a top priority for the Chinese government. The aim is both to protect existing forests and to gradually reconvert agricultural land to forest while planting trees on bare land. The reforestation project, supported by Reforest'Action and Hennessy and carried out in the field by the Guangxi Chongzuo Linda Forestry company, is therefore perfectly aligned with China's national strategy.

## Reforesting mountains to combat rock desertification

The project is located in the Qinglong district of Guizhou province, within a natural site subject to rock desertification. This phenomenon characterizes the processes that transform a karst area into a rocky landscape almost devoid of soil and vegetation*. China is one of the countries suffering most from desertification in the world, with 2.61 million km2 impacted**, i.e. 27%, of the country's total surface area. The original forest that used to cover the project area disappeared many years ago, and the fragile soil is now covered by a few naturally-growing grasses and shrubs and is highly exposed to erosion. On this depleted soil, natural regeneration is not an option, and neither the communities nor the local institutions have sufficient funds to restore their land.

*Earth-Science Reviews, Volume 132, May 2014, Pages 1-12
**Estimation of the costs of desertification in China: a critical review, 2016

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### A three-fold objective

The project's objectives, to be implemented over a three-year period (2021-2024), focus on three main pillars.

**1 - Restoring degraded ecosystems**
The project aims to create a forest on communal land that is currently bare by planting a mix of five species native to the region. The existing vegetation, mainly grasses and shrubs, will be preserved as much as possible. In the long term, the planted trees will limit erosion and combat rock desertification, helping to regenerate the soil's ecological properties. The diversity of the species chosen will strengthen the area's resilience in the face of potential climatic or biological hazards. Last but not least, the newly-grown forest will store approximately 100,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over a 30-year period.

**2 - Fostering native biodiversity**
The presence of trees, including a fruit species, will contribute to the development of habitats for the region's flora and fauna, which are essential to the ecosystem's long-term stability and adaptability. The region's remote, steep slopes have encouraged the emergence of numerous endemic species of birds, reptiles, and snakes, which will benefit from the habitat extension measures. Some specimens have already been spotted near the project’s planting sites.

**3 - Improving the villagers' socio-economic conditions**
In this rural area, opportunities for villagers to raise their standard of living are limited. All forestry work under the project will be carried out by local communities, mobilized in the field by our partner. In the years to come, the potential for harvesting fruit from the trees will also represent an interesting economic benefit for the population.

![DSC06656_yk.jpg](/uploads/DSC_06656_yk_d3ca8105c0.jpg)

### Review of the project's activities

Carried out manually by recruited villagers, the plantings began at the end of March 2022, with the onset of the rainy season, and were completed in June of the same year. A total of 571,641 trees were planted on 192 hectares during this first season. The second year of the project began in April 2023 and ended in December of the same year. The latest assessment carried out by our partner at the end of September 2023 showed that over 295,000 seedlings had already been planted, representing 54% of the 2022-2023 target.

With regard to the species mix, two species (Chinese fir and cypress) were planted in 2022 in equal proportions. Purchased from an external nursery, our partner experienced difficulties in obtaining seedlings for the other three species that were to be planted. To overcome this availability problem and meet the needs of the next two years, a nursery dedicated to the project was subsequently created. In 2023, seedlings of Chinese fir, cypress, honey locust, toona sinensis, and alder were produced by the Linda Forestry company team and planted on site. In the third quarter of 2023, to support the development of the project, the local government allowed our partner to set up its nursery in an area with a larger surface area, a better water supply, and more convenient transport conditions.

![Audit23.jpg](/uploads/Audit23_2cfd6f682c.jpg)
 
**The last field audit carried out by Reforest'Action in March 2023 made it possible to assess the survival rate of trees planted in 2022, which was 93.7%. The average tree height measured was 41.7 centimeters. As the Chinese fir and cypress are native species adapted to the local environment, they were found to be in good health. To maximize results, the Linda Forestry company systematically replaces trees that fail to survive by replanting them in the following planting seasons. However, climatic conditions in 2023 were not so favorable: rainfall was significantly lower than in 2022. A second field audit will be carried out by Reforest'Action in April 2024.** 

## Maximizing socio-economic impact to promote human well-being

Promoting human well-being is fundamental to the projects supported by Maison Hennessy. In China's Guizhou province, which struggles with rural poverty exacerbated by historical environmental degradation, the project developed by Reforest'Action directly benefits the livelihoods of ethnic minorities through the generation of additional income. The socio-economic impact is therefore a major pillar of our joint approach in China and will be monitored over the long term.

### Employment and income opportunities

Agriculture is the main economic driver in the province. That's why the people living in the villages of Zhebu, the first to be affected by the project, depend entirely on farming as a source of income. With the soil depletion, agricultural productivity is reduced, as are the villagers' means of subsistence. In 2022, the project provided employment opportunities for 324 villagers. Planters, nursery workers, vehicle drivers, and forest rangers were all recruited to carry out the restoration activities under the supervision of the Linda Forestry company. These direct beneficiaries, including 80% of women, earned money at the end of their contribution, enabling them to provide for their families. Besides, an estimated 7,696 people (workers' families and other villagers) indirectly benefited from the first wave of planting. The planted trees are monitored and maintained by ten forest rangers employed by our partner. Their role is to patrol the planting area on a daily basis to prevent potential degradation risks (fires, animals grazing, parasites, or diseases) and to take immediate action to minimize losses. They are also responsible for site maintenance (weeding, etc.). Over the three years of the project, taking all activities into account, up to 55,000 man-days of work will be required, for the benefit of villagers who wish to get involved.

In parallel, the project will contribute to the local economy by opening the way to tree product commercialization. Known as "zao jia", the Chinese honey locust is one of the fifty fundamental plants used in traditional Chinese pharmacopoeia. Its fruits, which are long, bean-like pods, and its thorns are used in the manufacture of cosmetics and medicinal products, but they can also be used to make paper. The leaves of the toona sinensis, another tree planted as part of the project, are used in traditional Chinese cooking. Once mature, the fruit or leaves of these trees will be harvested and sold by the communities, who will split the earnings, to companies that will process them. The villagers concerned could generate around $150,000 a year in additional income from the marketing of forest products.

![Planting 2.JPG](/uploads/Planting_2_a255d7f68b.JPG)

### Social commitment at the core of our activities

In order to facilitate and strengthen community participation in the project, our partner has implemented a comprehensive engagement process: upstream meetings introducing the project and its benefits to involve villagers, tree-planting training to initiate the public, regular updates on the project's achievements to ensure constant mobilization, etc. These initiatives reflect the importance of working hand in hand with local people, who are both the driving force and the beneficiaries of this restoration program. Once recruited, most of the workers were involved in the project's design: through community meetings, they had the opportunity to give their opinions and discuss future activities. In addition, from March to April 2022, prior to the planting phase, 280 beneficiaries took part in a half-day training session: technical requirements, seedling management, safety, and waste management were all on the agenda.

During the last audit, Reforest'Action gathered feedback from beneficiaries by conducting several interviews. All respondents were happy to be able to contribute to activities in the field and were motivated by the idea of ensuring the proper growth of trees. They understand the importance of trees in the fight against rocky desertification. They also mentioned the much-needed income they receive from the project. In addition, a feedback mechanism has been set up for participants to make any comments and/or suggestions regarding the project's course. This mechanism is fundamental to ensuring optimal implementation and monitoring of the project and is managed both by village representatives and the villagers' committee and by the Linda Forestry company.

![DSC06012_yk.jpg](/uploads/DSC_06012_yk_50c61793a8.jpg)

**Maison Hennessy has come to appreciate the central role of forest ecosystems in ensuring a sustainable future for future generations. In 2020, the company entered into a 10-year partnership with Reforest'Action. This long-term commitment enables the implementation of an ambitious, long-term program to contribute to the regeneration of 50,000 hectares of forest worldwide. The project to restore degraded mountain ecosystems in Guizhou province illustrates the Maison's commitment to promoting the ecosystem services provided by forests for the benefit of the local populations that depend on them.** 

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China: in the precious land of Guizhou, Maison Hennessy contributes to the fight against rocky desertification through reforestation

**In the Peruvian provinces of Lamas, El Dorado, and San Martín, Reforest'Action works in partnership with the CIGDES to support local farmers in setting up agroforestry systems on former abandoned grasslands. The second season of this three-year project came to an end in 2023. A year of intense work saw the planting of 600,000 trees of diverse native species for the maximum benefit of producers who are gradually reclaiming their now fertile land, where they are planting fruit and vegetables in agroforestry. However, faced with increasing drought and the threat of devastating ants, our partner had to redouble its efforts to ensure the survival of the trees. In addition to the future harvesting of tree products, alternative economic activities, such as community beekeeping, are being organized on the ground with the aim of increasing the livelihoods of communities.** 

The project supported by Reforest'Action and carried out in the field by the [Innovation and Management Center for Sustainable Development](https://www.cigdes.org/) (CIGDES) is located in three provinces of the San Martín region, at the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon: Lamas, El Dorado, and San Martín. Starting in summer 2021, the project has been running for over two years in an effort to restore vast areas of degraded pasturelands. The objective is to support and accompany landowners in the rehabilitation of their fallow land through the creation of diversified agroforestry systems. Local communities, for whom agriculture is one of the main means of subsistence, have been clearing the Amazon rainforest in recent decades in order to grow food crops and graze livestock. As a result of traditional farming practices, the land has gradually lost its original fertility until it was abandoned by farming and livestock-raising families. These former meadows have been overgrown with spontaneous vegetation and are now covered by several species of invasive ferns, which are particularly prone to fire in the summer. These phenomena prevent the natural regeneration of the forest. The project therefore aims to restore these abandoned lands by planting six to eight tree species (depending on the season) that will both encourage the future regeneration of the native rainforest and create productive, sustainable agroforestry systems for the benefit of local populations.

On the occasion of an audit carried out in August 2023, Juliet, Project Officer in Peru for Reforest'Action, was able to observe the first positive impacts of the project. [Beneficiaries from the Kichwa ethnic group,](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/northern-peru-agroforestry-revive-pachamama) involved in the first planting season, are now convinced of the need for restoration activities: their plots have been cleared of invasive ferns, the trees planted two years ago have grown well, and the return of biodiversity is already noticeable (birds, bees, insects, and macrofauna). Their enthusiasm has attracted other producers keen to support the regeneration of their land, so our partner no longer needs to promote the project among the communities, which are already motivated by the many economic and environmental benefits enjoyed by their neighbors. 

![Avant:Après.jpg](/uploads/Avant_Apres_be15185365.jpg)

![Avant:Après2.jpg](/uploads/Avant_Apres2_3ffef25b44.jpg)

## The second restoration season: involving local producer families in forestry activities

### Work carried out together with communities

During the 2022-2023 project season, 600,000 trees were planted - including Brazilian rubber, breadnut and mocambo tree, and even sweet pea - on over 300 hectares of degraded areas. Beneficiaries, representing 144 farming families newly enrolled in the project, were involved in the forestry work and took part in at least one of 36 training sessions covering planting techniques, plot maintenance, pest management, and more. 

Beyond planting, the ecological restoration process involves a range of varied, complex, and physical silvicultural tasks. The first step, among the most important, is to prepare the soil to receive the trees. This means removing all invasive ferns to minimize the impact of the ecological barrier they represent and to guarantee the growth and productivity of the future forest. This work is carried out by each producer on his own plots, assisted by two members of the CIGDES technical team. In the San Martín region, traditional farming organization is reflected in a variety of ways, most notably through the existence of mutual assistance days, known as "choba-choba" in the Kichwa language, and organized by the communal committee. These moments of solidarity are mainly intended to strengthen the harmony between people and natural cycles. The whole family takes part in these events, with everyone contributing according to their abilities and skills. Last season's "choba-choba" enabled landowners to benefit from collective help in completing the preparation of their land. A few days after the weeding was completed, a particular tree species, whose primary function is to prepare the soil, was planted: the pigeon pea, or Cajanus Cajan, of the fabaceae family. The aim of planting this species first is to provide shade on the plot, limit the growth of ferns and other weeds, and enrich the soil with plant biomass to create a microclimate conducive to the growth of young seedlings. 

![Luis 2023.jpg](/uploads/Luis_2023_ac4aefa1f4.jpg)

The second step is to install the multi-stage agroforestry system on the producers' plots. The task involves marking out the spatial distribution of plant units to know where to plant fruit and leguminous trees, with a view to creating the pre-established design. This activity is carried out by the CIGDES installation team with the participation of the families, who are at the same time trained in the technical operations of the conception process: taking measurements, using a contour line, aligning, orienting, picketing, and so on. Once the land is ready, the seedlings are transported from the nearest nursery to the area to be reforested, and planting work can begin. A notable improvement in the organization of this second season is the installation of 57 "flying nurseries" on beneficiaries' land, using locally sourced materials. The decentralization of seedling production means that seedlings can be delivered on time with fewer physical constraints. The location of the "flying nurseries" has been decided by the community, which takes responsibility for their maintenance and also acquires precious knowledge about the production of native Amazonian tree species.

![Pépinière volante.jpg](/uploads/Pepiniere_volante_e55ee3b6a1.jpg)
Tree production in a flying nursery on a farmer's land

Finally, the maintenance of the planted trees is an ongoing task that begins on the last day of planting. The CIGDES has a team of professionals dedicated to monitoring the survival of the planted trees and the success of the restoration process. Their mission is to support producers in their monitoring tasks and to train them through regular workshops on shade management, green manuring, pruning, fertilization, pest, and disease control, etc. In collaboration with Reforest'Action, the CIGDES also benefits from a digital mapping software system that enables them to monitor and trace the planted trees over time.

### Search for solutions to climatic and biotic hazards

The survival rate of the trees planted during the project's second season is about 92%. However, this high percentage reflects the continuous monitoring work of our partner, who systematically replants specimens that do not survive. While all the plots are currently in good phytosanitary condition, several challenges were experienced this year, making the restoration of the Amazonian rainforest more difficult.

The summer is getting hotter and hotter in the San Martín region, and the drought is a real challenge. Beneficiaries report how difficult it is to keep the trees alive in this context of climate change. Several measures have been put in place to mitigate the scarce rainfall, including the addition of hydrogel to the soil when the trees are planted to ensure better water retention. In addition, the production of extra seedlings in the CIGDES central nursery effectively overcame drought-related mortality. Another hazard, this time a biotic one, is the presence of devastating ants in the restoration area. To counter this scourge, the participation of some beneficiary producers, who applied biological ant repellents, was key. At the same time, the CIGDES and Reforest'Action decided to collaborate with national and international forestry institutions, such as the Spanish [National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology](https://www.inia.es/en-en/Pages/Home.aspx) (INIA) and the [Center for International Forestry Research](https://www.cifor.org/) (CIFOR). These partnerships will make it possible to gather scientific knowledge and find effective natural solutions to insect damage.

![Ant damage.jpg](/uploads/Ant_damage_01459b0a0b.jpg)
Ant damage on a young tree

## The socio-economic impact: promoting food security and alternative income generation

### Fruits and vegetables grown in agroforestry

Besides its environmental impact, the project includes a significant social component. Expected socio-economic benefits include improved food security for producer families. The agroforestry systems created as part of the project are made up of various productive species, including fruit trees, beans, and peas. These food products will be harvested by the landowners and used for personal consumption or sold. Another benefit of restoring the land by integrating trees is that it makes the soil cultivable and fertile again. Some farming families have already started growing fruit and vegetables (bananas, beans, manioc, etc.), which are the basis of their diet, in the shade of the trees planted in 2021.

![Adoniran 2023.jpg](/uploads/Adoniran_2023_62fa68955f.jpg)

### Creation of alternative value chains

In the long term, some tree products will help to revive a local, sustainable economy. Indeed, the species planted in agroforestry will provide high-value raw materials, such as latex produced from rubber tree bark, Mayan walnut seeds, and majambo pods, which contain white, almond-flavored beans. Another economic activity that our partner is about to initiate is beekeeping. Several tree species can already produce flowers, and the honey produced can easily be sold on local markets. Awareness-raising sessions on the use of natural inputs will be organized among producers to ensure the survival of the bees. While it is still too early to witness the results, the creation of these alternative value chains will have many positive impacts, including local job creation.

![Bénéficiaires 23.jpg](/uploads/Beneficiaires_23_1ebd7140e2.jpg)

### Community capacity building

As the communities are at the very heart of the project's implementation and success, their empowerment represents a major focus. Throughout the year, operational workshops were organized by our partner, not only to train participants but also to gather their expectations and feedback. Since the start of activities, communities have been grouped into 20 community co-management committees in the three provinces where the project is being implemented. This structure ensures the smooth running of operations, as well as the organization of regular assemblies and "choba-choba" days and the monitoring of plantings. This participatory approach also promotes the consolidation and sustainability of ecological restoration.

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Land restoration and agroforestry systems implementation in the region of San Martín, Peru

**Registered under the VCS certification standard, the Kuzuko project in South Africa is located in a nature reserve that has protected degraded former pastures to allow the return of the biodiversity that has lived in this landscape for thousands of years. Thanks to the complementary expertise of AfriCarbon and Reforest’Action, the project aims to restore 5,185 hectares of Portulacaria afra-dominated thicket, a tree species known locally as spekboom, to help re-establish the original plant community and habitat of this extraordinary indigenous fauna. In addition to the climatic action linked to carbon sequestration, it will be the source of a vast array of environmental and socio-economic benefits that will be closely monitored throughout the project, within a veritable open-air laboratory dedicated to the restoration of the living.**

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M5xePCUGkRo?si=vouLHP0Bb2c_wk_D" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

## The origins of a large-scale project

### The beginnings of Reforest’Action’s involvement
Reforest’Action’s commitment in South Africa dates back to 2020. With the aim of contributing to the restoration of the the Albany thicket, a lasting partnership was formed that year with the South African company AfriCarbon, backed by twenty years of research and experimentation applied to these unique ecosystems. The result was the launch of an initial project in the Eastern-Cape province, enabling 200 hectares of thicket to be restored by planting 500,000 spekboom seedlings.
Strengthened by the mutual trust they had built up over the course of this first joint project, Reforest’Action and AfriCarbon decided in the spring of 2022 to take their ambition to the next level. Given the colossal financing requirements needed to make progress towards the goal of restoring all the degraded thickets in the region, the two organisations turned to the voluntary carbon market.
As part of the Kuzuko project, which aims to restore 5,185 hectares of spekboom thicket within a protected nature reserve, a PDD (a document describing the planning of a carbon project and its compliance with certification requirements) had already been drafted in 2014 for submission to the international VCS standard by Anthony Mills, founder of AfriCarbon. But the latent state of the voluntary carbon market over the last decade meant that the Kuzuko project was unable to find funding.

![Anthony-Mills-with-spekboom-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Anthony_Mills_with_spekboom_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_e3c49fa49c.jpg)
_Anthony Mills (AfriCarbon) in front of a large spekboom in Kuzuko_

### A synergy between two complementary areas of expertise
As funding partner, Reforest’Action then joined the Kuzuko project’s carbon certification process and contributed its expertise in drawing up and supervising the business plan to guarantee the project’s financial integrity and secure the investment needed to launch restoration operations. 
In support of AfriCarbon, Reforest’Action also helped to finalize the protocols for measuring the carbon sequestration enabled by the project, as well as projecting its environmental and socio-economic impacts beyond climate action alone. At the same time, a rigorous monitoring and reporting process has been put in place to check - and adjust if necessary - these various parameters, ensuring that they comply with the VCS certification standards.
In the field, the scientists of the AfriCarbon team implement the project design as they conceived it, drawing on their expertise in botany and soil science. They coordinate all the technical operations, apply the monitoring process for the growth of the trees and the impacts generated, and ensure the control and quality assurance of the data collected. 
The combination of Reforest’Action’s and AfriCarbon’s complementary areas of expertise makes Kuzuko a particularly robust and ambitious project for restoring ecosystems.

![Robbert-Duker-&-Quentin-Guyon-in-Kirkwood-nursery-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Robbert_Duker_and_Quentin_Guyon_in_Kirkwood_nursery_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_64da7ae984.jpg)
_Robbert Duker (AfriCarbon) and Quentin Guyon (Reforest'Action) at one of the project's nurseries_

## A project to restore the spekboom thicket biome 

### A project designed around the VCS and CCB certification
The Kuzuko project is now registered under the VCS (Verified Carbon Standard) certification, one of the most widely used international standards for contributing to global neutrality linked to the voluntary carbon market. This standard, managed by Verra, a not-for-profit organisation, guarantees that the tonnes of CO2 equivalent sequestered thanks to the deployment of the project meet certain quality criteria.
Within Verra’s registry, Kuzuko corresponds to the ARR (Afforestation, Reforestation & Revegetation) typology, attributed to projects that develop forest carbon sinks by restoring vegetation cover. By encouraging carbon sequestration, the project contributes to achieving global carbon neutrality.
The project will be audited every four years for thirty years by the Validation & Verification Body, an organisation approved by Verra which provides validation and verification services in accordance with the rules of the VCS standard. Each verification will generate certified carbon credits, corresponding to the amount of carbon actually sequestered by the trees planted as part of the project. 
The Kuzuko project is also in the process of being certified to the CCB (Climate, Community & Biodiversity) standard managed by Verra. This standard certifies that the project generates positive impacts on the climate and incorporates best practice in terms of community involvement and biodiversity conservation. 
Combining the VCS and CCB certifications guarantees the quality of the carbon credits generated by the project, while providing additional benefits that go beyond carbon mitigation measures.

![Workers-planting-spekboom-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Workers_planting_spekboom_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_b16cb2b4f2.jpg)
 
### A project anchored in a biodiversity sanctuary
Located 150 kilometres from Port Elizabeth, in South Africa’s Eastern-Cape province, the Kuzuko reserve was created in 2002 through the protection of degraded land from 18 former goat farms. Thanks to the rewilding work carried out up until the reserve’s inauguration in 2008 to promote nature-based ecotourism, these degraded former pastures have been transformed into a veritable reservoir of animal biodiversity, now home, over an area of 15,000 hectares, to emblematic species of South Africa’s indigenous fauna, including elephants and rhinoceroses, Cape zebras and greater kudu, lions and cheetahs.

![South-Africa-Kuzuko.jpg](/uploads/South_Africa_Kuzuko_35d199db1e.jpg)

![Elephant-2-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Elephant_2_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_c53e466ae2.jpg)

In terms of plant biodiversity, however, the removal of the goats and the respect of the ecosystem’s carrying capacity for two decades were not enough to regenerate the native vegetation of the arid Albany thicket, which was originally dominated - up to 80% of their vegetation - by a succulent species, Portulacaria afra. This tree, endemic to southern Africa and known locally as spekboom, is an essential pioneer species for the development and maintenance of a diverse plant community. 
"Our research has established that a third of the area now covered by the Kuzuko reserve was dominated by spekboom thickets two centuries ago, representing more than 5,000 hectares" says Anthony Mills, PhD in soil science and founder of AfriCarbon. " Today, the Kuzuko reserve has allowed the return of the wildlife that this landscape has known for thousands and thousands of years, but the current state of the vegetation is not adapted to its needs. This is the whole point of the restoration project that Reforest’Action and AfriCarbon are carrying out at Kuzuko: to re-establish the original habitat of this extraordinary indigenous wildlife and to contribute, on the scale of 5,185 hectares, to the restoration of the Albany arid thicket biome."
Twenty years of scientific research have proved that spekboom has a central role to play in this restoration, through its ability to act on soil health and the water cycle, and to create the microclimate needed for the resurgence of a rich plant community. This engineer species, with its extraordinary physiological adaptation, is at the heart of the design of the Kuzuko project.

![Cheetah-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Cheetah_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_002dc184ad.jpg)

### A project built on science and technology
On the ground, operations are managed by Robbert Duker, PhD in environmental plant physiology and AfriCarbon’s Chief Operations Officer, who is, with his team, based full-time within the Kuzuko reserve. 

![Robbert-Duker-in-Kirkwood-nursery-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Robbert_Duker_in_Kirkwood_nursery_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_f21db6701f.jpg)
_Robbert Duker (AfriCarbon) at one of the project's nurseries_

By identifying the areas to be restored within the reserve, which currently consist of moderately or severely degraded thickets, AfriCarbon was able to use rigorous mapping to divide the 5,185 hectares concerned into 1,730 plots, thereby defining a plan to be followed during the planting operations.
 
![Project-Map-Kuzuko.jpg](/uploads/Project_Map_Kuzuko_bd845d4287.jpg)

Three nurseries have been set up to produce the 25,9 million spekboom needed to restore the 5,185 hectares of degraded thicket. The cuttings, harvested from intact remnants of spekboom thickets, are raised in these nurseries, which provide them with the optimum conditions for their growth.
 
![Harvesting-Spekboom-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Harvesting_Spekboom_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_ddb27a4ccd.jpg)
Récolte de boutures de spekboom à Kuzuko

Today, the Kuzuko project employs around 300 people, who are housed and fed throughout the working week in purpose-built facilities. Planting began in September 2022 and will be completed by the end of December 2023. Around six months after planting, AfriCarbon carries out an initial monitoring to check that the trees are in good health and, if necessary, to organize maintenance work. This will then be repeated once a year. 

![Planting-Spekbooms-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Planting_Spekbooms_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_14c9bfde2c.jpg)

## The monitoring of impact indicators to reflect the added value of the project

### Climate: measuring carbon sequestration
For a carbon project such as Kuzuko, monitoring carbon sequestration throughout the life of the project is a central aspect. A project scenario is defined and compared with a baseline scenario, which determines the amount of carbon that would have been sequestered if the project had not been implemented. The comparison between the baseline scenario and the project scenario is then used to estimate the additional sequestration actually enabled by the project.
The spekboom’s remarkable ability to rapidly fix CO2 - and therefore remove it from the atmosphere - makes this tree an asset for mitigating climate change on a global scale. Restoring spekboom thickets thus increases the carbon storage capacity of above-ground and underground biomass (all organic plant matter), as well as that of the soil.
Based on years of research and experimentation with spekboom thickets, the carbon sequestration target for the Kuzuko project is 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent over the 30-year credit period. This target includes a 20% buffer, which reduces the final sequestration value of tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This estimated carbon storage will be measured in real terms every four years by field surveys and verified by an audit conducted by the VCS standard.

![William-measuring-carbon-in-soil-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/William_measuring_carbon_in_soil_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_3614260061.jpg)
_William Gummow (AfriCarbon) taking samples to measure soil organic carbon_

### Soil, biodiversity, communities: 3 pillars of the project 
The construction of a baseline scenario and a project scenario also applies to other impact indicators, which will be scrupulously monitored through a monitoring plan defined by AfriCarbon in conjunction with Reforest’Action. 
"When it comes to measuring the impact of the project, we look beyond carbon sequestration" explains Quentin Guyon, Project Manager in charge of developing the Kuzuko project for Reforest’Action. "We also take into account all the added value of the project, beyond the climate action alone, for soil quality, the development of biodiversity and the living conditions of local communities, by assessing the initial state of each indicator and observing its evolution throughout the life of the project."
In terms of improving soil conditions, various indicators will be monitored throughout the project on permanent plots, such as soil temperature, density, infiltration and water retention rates, and erosion rates.

![Contrast-between-restored-thicket-soil-and-degraded-thicket-soil-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Contrast_between_restored_thicket_soil_and_degraded_thicket_soil_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_253e557da6.jpg)
_Contrast between moist soil sampled under a spekboom and arid soil sampled in the open_

With regard to the project's impact on biodiversity, the monitoring plan involves, in particular, monitoring the diversity of flora, the number of bird species, endangered species and pollinators.

![Greater-Kudu-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Greater_Kudu_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_e87532782c.jpg)
_Spekboom (in foreground) provides habitats and a resilient food source for native wildlife_ 

The socio-economic dimension is also a fully-fledged component of the project, which contributes directly to reducing local poverty levels. As part of the project, all the staff involved in the activities - harvesting spekboom cuttings, maintaining the nurseries, transporting the seedlings to the plots, planting the trees, activities linked to the infrastructures to accommodate the workers (kitchen, maintenance, shuttle service, etc.) - represent the creation of more than 300 jobs over an 15-month period, which could be extended thanks to the continued restoration of spekboom thickets in other degraded areas of the Eastern-Cape. 

![Monwabisi-worker-on-thicket-restoration-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Monwabisi_worker_on_thicket_restoration_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_f60ca4b0e5.jpg)

![Harvesting-spekboom-2-ReforestAction-AL-Avril.jpg](/uploads/Harvesting_spekboom_2_Reforest_Action_AL_Avril_c5da395712.jpg)
_Monwabisi Manene and Zukiswa Davids, two workers employed on the Kuzuko project._

The social benefits also extend to the younger generation, as the project provides funding, through the Kuzuko Foundation Trust, for two primary schools located in Middlewater and Bracefield. The funds will be used to improve infrastructure, provide schoolchildren with quality teaching materials and contribute to their environmental education, teaching them the value of natural ecosystems and biodiversity from an early age.

**The Kuzuko project demonstrates the ability of carbon-certified projects to extend their impact far beyond climate benefits, by promoting soil health, fostering biodiversity and improving living conditions for human communities. This holistic approach contributes to the restoration of valuable ecosystem services and the regeneration of the living in a sustainable way. While the challenge of restoring the thickets ecosystems in South Africa is a major one, with a degraded area of over one million hectares, the impacts of the Kuzuko project have the potential to be multiplied as future actions are carried out by AfriCarbon and Reforest’Action. Strengthened by this initial experience at Kuzuko, the two organisations will be pursuing their joint ambition to restore this unique biome over the coming years.**

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- _The Kuzuko project was notably funded by Capgemini, a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. Capgemini is committed to a 90% decarbonization by 2040 and in addition is investing in high integrity carbon credits to abate and remove carbon from beyond their own value chain._
- _The scientific information and figures concerning the physiological characteristics of spekboom come from interviews conducted by Reforest'Action with Anthony Mills, Doctor of Soil Science and Founder of AfriCarbon, and Robbert Duker, Doctor of Plant Environmental Physiology and Chief Operations Officer of AfriCarbon, or from their published, peer-reviewed scientific work._
- _All the photographs illustrating this article were taken by Reforest'Action._

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Kuzuko: a certified carbon project to restore the living

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CHECK  AND VISIT

2020-2021_Bordeaux-Saint-Clair_76_France

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Alisier torminal

Hêtre commun

Chêne pédonculé

Érable sycomore

Châtaignier

Merisier

Chêne sessile (rouvre)

Ces parcelles situées en Seine Maritime occupent une surface totale de 4,5 hectares. Ce sont pour la plupart des herbages abandonnés par les exploitants agricoles. Le propriétaire a la volonté de créer un boisement. La plantation d'essences diverses de feuillus permettra l'accueil d'une riche biodiversité sur des terrains qui n'en abritait jusqu'alors que peu. En plus, la réalisation de ce boisement consiste en la création d'un véritable puits de carbone, les arbres et le sol vont en effet en stocker de façon durable. Enfin, la diversité d'essences va rendre le futur peuplement plus résiliant aux aléas naturels. À l’avenir, les arbres participeront à la lutte contre le réchauffement climatique en stockant du carbone. Ils assureront également une continuité forestière sur la zone et participeront  à la formation d’un patrimoine boisé résilient.

Contributes to the mitigation of the greenhouse effect and influences precipitation patterns and the local microclimate.

Preservation of local biodiversity by providing suitable habitats and resources.

Influences the quality and integrity of the soil-water system, and the cycling of water and nutrients.

Supports human well-being, by providing resources, income, education, and supporting recreation and heritage.

These plots in the Seine Maritime department cover a total area of 4.5 hectares. Most of them are grassland abandoned by farmers. The owner intends to create a woodland. The planting of a variety of deciduous species will provide a rich habitat for biodiversity on land that previously harbored very little. In addition, the creation of this woodland will create a real carbon sink, as the trees and soil will store carbon in a sustainable way. Finally, the diversity of tree species will make the future stand more resilient to natural hazards. In the future, trees will help combat global warming by storing carbon. They will also ensure forest continuity in the area and contribute to the creation of a resilient woodland heritage.

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Pin maritime

Pin Taeda

Pin rigide

Séquoia sempervirent

Dans le Morbihan, cette monoculture de pins maritimes a été beaucoup affaiblie par sa composition monospécifique. En effet, elle a dû faire face à une propagation d’armillaire. En s’attaquant à l’écorce des racines, ce champignon détruit et fait pourrir la souche jusqu’à empêcher la sève de circuler et provoquer la mort des arbres touchés. Malheureusement, il n’existe pas encore de remède à cette maladie fongique, la seule solution est donc de récolter les arbres malades avant de reconstituer le peuplement. Aujourd’hui, 5 300 arbres, composés de plusieurs essences de résineux, restaurent aujourd’hui cette forêt. La diversification du peuplement rendra le massif plus résistant face aux aléas biotiques et climatiques, tout en enrichissant la biodiversité de la forêt. Par ailleurs, les arbres plantés stockeront du carbone, participant ainsi à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Une fois matures, ils contribueront aussi à la production durable de bois d’œuvre.

In Morbihan, this maritime pine monoculture was severely weakened by its monospecific composition. In fact, it had to contend with the spread of armillaria. By attacking the bark of the roots, this fungus destroys and rots the stump, preventing the sap from circulating and causing the death of the affected trees. Unfortunately, there is as yet no cure for this fungal disease, so the only solution is to harvest the diseased trees before replanting the stand. Today, 5,300 trees of various resinous species are restoring the forest. The diversification of the stand will make it more resistant to biotic and climatic hazards, while enriching the forest's biodiversity. The trees planted will also store carbon, helping to combat climate change. Once mature, they will also contribute to sustainable timber production.

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Noyer commun

Érable champêtre

Frêne commun

Sureau noir

Noisetier commun

Viorne obier

Mûrier blanc

Cormier

Tilleul à petites feuilles

Néflier

Bourdaine

Poirier commun

Pommier franc

Cognassier

Églantier

Viorne Lantane

Bouleau verruqueux

Févier d'Amérique

Houx commun

Orme Lutèce

Aulne à feuilles en cœur

Aubépine

Prunier Myrobolan

Aulne glutineux

Orme champêtre

Peuplier tremble

Saule Blanc

Tilleul à grandes feuilles

Ajonc d'Europe

Genêt à balais

Saule Marsault

Saule à trois étamines

Saule des vanniers

Poirier rouge

Pommier commun

Bouleau pubescent

Acacia

Fusain d'Europe

Prunellier

Cornouiller sanguin

Charme commun

Troene commun

Nerprun purgatif

En partenariat avec Mission Bocage, ce projet prévoit de planter des arbres et des haies bocagères sur plusieurs parcelles agricoles et agroforestières en Maine et Loire. Par exemple, les 7 781 arbres de ce projet, comportant des essences variées, serviront à la fois de brise-vues et de brise-vents qui protègeront les cultures et les animaux d’élevage. La diversité des essences plantées enrichira fortement le développement de la biodiversité des parcelles, améliorant par conséquent la fertilité des sols. Cela permettra aussi d’améliorer la qualité du paysage, où les arbres étaient bien plus présents autrefois. En générant de l’ombre voire de la nourriture aux animaux de pâturage, cette démarche participera aussi aux animaux. Par ailleurs, la restauration de cet écosystème permettra de stocker du carbone, contribuant ainsi à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Ce projet permettra d’étendre le maillage de haie dans cette zone agricole.

With 30 years' experience in hedgerow management in Maine-et-Loire, this association trains and supports farmers with limited resources in hedge planting.

In partnership with "Mission Bocage", this project involves planting trees and hedgerows on several agricultural and agroforestry plots in Maine et Loire. For example, the 7,781 trees in this project, featuring a variety of species, will act as both privacy screens and windbreaks to protect crops and livestock. The diversity of species planted will greatly enrich the development of biodiversity in the plots, thereby improving soil fertility. It will also improve the quality of the landscape, where trees were much more present in the past. By providing shade and even food for grazing animals, this approach will also benefit the animals. Restoring this ecosystem will also help to store carbon, thereby contributing to the fight against climate change. This project will extend the hedge network in this agricultural area.

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Spekboom

Reforest’Action is joining forces with C4 EcoSolutions and AfriCarbon, two South African companies into the protected reserves of Kuzuko and Koedoeskloof. The goal is to restore these ecosystems by planting more than 500,000 seeds of Spekboom, a local species which is essential to the ecological functioning of the region. The project will develop a new sustainable grazing management system to improve the carrying capacity of livestock without degrading the environment. Numerous benefits will also be generated: the return of biodiversity, including a population of elephants, rainwater infiltration improvement, restoration of arable land and improve the living conditions of the local populations.

DECENT_WORK_AND_ECONOMIC_GROWTH

CLIMATE_ACTION

LIFE_ON_LAND

Supports human well-being, by providing resources, income, education, empowerment, and supporting culture and spirituality.

Within the Eastern Cape, in South Africa, land desertification is due to the increasing pressure of livestock on pastureland. Nowadays, the increasing scarcity of vegetation cover and the degradation of local farmers’ land and surrounding reserves are causing many negative environmental effects, such as the drying up of water resources, loss of biodiversity and soil erosion. The plantation areas are made up of former degraded pastures, and are located close to areas that have been protected for several decades.

The project is led in the field by Anthony Mills, a geochemist and expert in environmental development projects. He is the founder of two companies, AfriCarbon in 2009 and C4 EcoSolutions in 2015, which ensure the technical and operational deployment of the project.

Reforest’Action is joining forces with C4 EcoSolutions and AfriCarbon, two South African companies into the protected reserves of Kuzuko and Koedoeskloof. The goal is to restore these ecosystems by planting seeds of Spekboom, a local species which is essential to the ecological functioning of the region. The project will develop a new sustainable grazing management system to improve the carrying capacity of livestock without degrading the environment. Numerous benefits will also be generated: the return of biodiversity, including a population of elephants, rainwater infiltration improvement, restoration of arable land and improve the living conditions of the local populations.

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Peuplier d'Italie

Douglas

Copalme d'Amérique

Chêne chevelu

Les parcelles de ces opérations sont situées dans trois communes de la Sarthe et font partie d'un ensemble de plusieurs projets portés par la Chambre d'Agriculture des Pays de la Loire. Pas moins de 18 essences, résineux et feuillus mélangés, seront plantées sur ces terres abandonnées. L'expérience et de nombreux travaux de recherche montrent que la productivité des écosystèmes forestiers croît en fonction de la diversité d'essences. Plusieurs phénomènes peuvent l'expliquer, par exemple les espèces "s’éduquent" entre elles et vont se concurrencer pour la lumière et les ressources, permettant un meilleur développement des plants. La croissance de ces arbres permettra de capter du dioxyde de carbone atmosphérique, luttant ainsi contre le réchauffement climatique. La diversité des essences permettra un accueil accru de la biodiversité tout en fournissant des matériaux et une source d'énergie durable. Ces arbres redonneront vie aux sols précédemment exploités par les activités agricoles.

The plots concerned are located in three communes in the Sarthe department, and are part of a series of projects run by the Pays de la Loire Agricultural Chamber. No fewer than 18 species of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees will be planted on this abandoned land. Experience and numerous research studies show that the productivity of forest ecosystems increases with species diversity. This can be explained by a number of phenomena, such as species "educating" each other and competing with each other for light and resources, leading to better seedling development. The growth of these trees will help to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, thereby combating global warming. The diversity of tree species will increase biodiversity, while providing materials and a sustainable source of energy. These trees will bring new life to soils previously exploited by agricultural activities.

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Tulipier de Virginie

Dans l’Orne, au coeur de la région Normandie, cette parcelle de 2,5 hectares va faire l’objet d’un projet de reboisement. Aujourd’hui, le peuplement est à l’état de taillis : l’essentiel de ses arbres sont issus de la reproduction végétative de souches. Malheureusement, le boisement y est pauvre et offre peu de perspectives de régénération. Par conséquent, le massif est en train de dépérir. L’objectif du projet est de peupler la parcelle grâce à des essences diverses. Ce boisement de qualité viendra renforcer le peuplement et accroîtra sa résilience face à d’éventuels aléas climatiques ou biologiques. À terme, le massif sera apte à accueillir une biodiversité locale riche. Les arbres contribueront également à l’enrichissement et à la protection des sols, permettant de limiter leur dégradation et leur érosion. Enfin, les arbres assureront également une continuité forestière sur la zone et participeront pleinement à la formation d’un patrimoine forestier résilient.

This 2.5-hectare plot of land in the Orne department, in the heart of the Normandy region, is to be reforested. Today, the stand is in coppice: most of its trees are vegetatively propagated from stumps. Unfortunately, the afforestation is poor and offers little prospect of regeneration. As a result, the forest is withering away. The aim of the project is to populate the plot with a variety of tree species. This quality afforestation will strengthen the stand and increase its resilience in the face of possible climatic or biological hazards. In the long term, the forest will be able to support a rich local biodiversity. The trees will also contribute to soil enrichment and protection, limiting soil degradation and erosion. Last but not least, the trees will also ensure forest continuity in the area, playing a full part in the creation of a resilient forest heritage.

2021-2022_Agneby Tiassa_Côte d'Ivoire

Tree planting with villagers involved in the project.

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Niangon

Bois jasanga

Fraké

Framiré

Acajou cédrel

Gmelina arborea

Acacia mangium

Tiama

Pohé

Chocolatier du Gabon

Petit kola

Reforest’Action is joining forces with the Ivorian company Agro-Map to support cocoa producers in the forest of Séguié in the Agnéby-Tiassa region, Ivory Coast, in the restoration of the forest and in the creation of agroforestry systems, which will make it possible to reconcile trees and crops in order to maintain a microclimate favourable to the development of agriculture. Over 200,000 are planted on 450 hectares.

The main objectives of the project are the development of agroforestry, the restoration of a classified forest, the preservation of biodiversity and the economic development of the populations. By restoring their environment: the local communities of Agnéby-Tiassa will also improve their food security.

Bénéfices estimés des arbres plantés ou préservés

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Kuzuko: a certified carbon project to restore the living