What is the Spekboom thicket?
Imagine there was a plant that can grow in harsh conditions, store large amounts of carbon, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and improve soil and water quality.
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, such a plant does exist, and it is called Spekboom!
There is an entire vegetation type named after it, called the Spekboom thicket.
The Spekboom, also known as dwarf jade or elephant bush, is a succulent shrub that is native to certain parts of the Eastern- and Western Cape in South Africa.
The Spekboom thicket is a unique and valuable ecosystem that used to cover an estimated area of 1,6- to 5 million hectares of land.
Pinpointing the exact size it once covered is an immense challenge, given over 200 years of undocumented degradation – making it very difficult.
One study from 2005 claimed that the Spekboom thicket covered an estimated area of 1.6 million hectares, while the UN claims it is 5 million hectares.
The Spekboom thicket is one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems in the world, supporting a rich variety of plants, trees and wildlife.
The small leaf guarri tree and the jacket plum are some of the iconic woody tree species you would find in this semi-arid/arid environment.
The Spekboom thicket is a super effective carbon sink.
No, it’s not better than a rainforest, but it is extremely valuable due to its ability to capture carbon in semi arid and arid environments.
In adversely dry periods when other plants cannot flourish, the Spekboom can switch between two photosynthetic pathways.
The Spekboom could thus continue to grow and use carbon despite experiencing considerable growth variations in the fluctuating day and night temperatures.
This allows the plant to excel in its native arid or semi-arid conditions. (Source)
Moreover, the Spekboom thicket plays a vital role in enhancing water security and livelihoods for the local communities, as it prevents soil erosion, retains moisture, and provides fodder for wild animals, as well as livestock.
The Spekboom thicket is a complex interdependent ecosystem, where plants and trees rely on each other to perform crucial functions.
For instance, the future of the small leafed guarri trees and jacket plum trees depend on the Spekboom.
These trees rely on the Spekboom’s ticket to allow their seeds to germinate and protect them from browsers.
However, this natural wonder is under threat due to human activities.
How did humans cause the degradation the Spekboom Thicket
According to some scientific backed estimates, more than 80% of the original Spekboom thicket has been lost or damaged, mainly due to overgrazing by goats, sheep, cattle, drought, and land conversion for commercial agriculture.
This has resulted in a significant loss of biodiversity, wildlife, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem services.
I think it’s pretty easy to understand that the degradation of the Spekboom thicket on such a large scale (more than 1 million hectares / 2.4 million acres), means that there is a lot less carbon sequestration happening on this earth.
It’s pretty clear that this contributed to the change in that specific climate… it’s like taking away your house’s roof. The climate will change in your house.
No plants = no carbon sequestration = no oxygen.
I specifically don’t want to say “climate change”, because so many people mis-used that term for their own good and it got a very bad reputation.
Then there are the people that argue “the climate has been changing for centuries, it’s nothing new, it’s part of nature’s cycles!”
Well, as you can see, this is different, and it definitely was due to human activity.
You see this mountain?
This ENTIRE mountain used to be fully covered with Spekboom thicket, small-leaved guarri trees, jacket plum trees, and a lot of other plant species.
This is what it used to look like:
But, mismanagement and overgrazing destroyed the Spekboom, so soil temperatures heated up, water retention lowered, causing the other vegetation to die off as well.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only mountain that was overgrazed till there were only rocks left.
No no, the problem is pretty widespread. I mean, you can even spot it on Google Maps.
Check out these images; the fence lines make it clear each day how much of an issue we’re dealing with.
There are A LOT more, you can go and have a look on google maps yourself.
Here’s a good example of what it should look like vs the degradation happening as we speak.
When the Spekboom died off, the other trees and vegetation that relied on the Spekboom, also started to die off.
The Spekboom thicket’s degradation has exposed the soil to temperature extremes and reduced its water-holding capacity, resulting in the death of surrounding trees and vegetation.
Additionally, it has led to rapid water runoff and soil erosion.
In essence, the degradation has transformed what was once a thriving expanse of thicket and wildlife into a desolate, barren rocky desert.
Trees and vegetation contribute to lowering both soil and air temperatures by offering shade and cooling through evaporation and transpiration processes.
So we know that plants and trees help lower soil and air temperatures, right?
And we know that humans caused a massive loss in plants and trees on over a million hectares of land, due to overgrazing and clearing of the Spekboom thicket.
Then I believe you don’t need a degree to conclude that humans caused a change in that climate… and definitely not for the better.
The Spekboom thicket was home to a rich variety of fauna, including endangered species such as the black rhino and the Cape mountain zebra.
Less thicket vegetation equals less habitat for these animals, which means increased chance for extinction.
It would genuinely be a heartbreaking moment when you find yourself having to rely on images to show your children what a rhino used to look like.
Here’s and image of one of the few elephants left in the Spekboom thicket, busy munching on some Spekboom.
It’s challenging to find the right words without sounding overly dramatic or clickbaity, but the reality is pressing — wildlife is losing its habitat daily and nature is diminishing at an alarming rate. Not just the Spekboom thicket, but world-wide.
The need to act is undeniable; we can’t afford to stand idly by.
Our connection to nature is vital, and it’s high time we take meaningful steps to address this issue.
So how do we restore it?
What can we do?
Should we go crazy and plant Spekboom everywhere?
No, definitely not!
Planting Spekboom outside of their natural habitat can be actually worse.
Don’t get me wrong, while the Spekboom is undoubtedly a remarkable plant, it’s NOT a magic bullet for the world’s “change in climate” problem.
HOWEVER, restoring the natural habitat that once was the Spekboom thicket will definitely have a positive impact on the world’s overall “change in climate” problem and on wildlife.
There have been numerous attempts to restore the spekboom thicket, some funded by the government and some privately funded.
Although that’s very commendable, unfortunately, they are all just a scratch on the surface.
As mentioned at the start, an estimated 1- to 4 million hectares have been degraded.
There was one project that partnered with farmers to restore a very small plot on their farms.
They planted a lot of cuttings and fenced them to prevent livestock from interfering.
Unfortunately during a drought, the farmers cut the fences to let their livestock graze the only few Spekboom that was left.
A few other projects ran out of money, while only a handful is still going.
The point is, it’s hard. Restoring the Spekboom thicket in a semi-arid environment is hard due to the lack of rain and extreme heat.
BUT, it is possible.
Drawing from personal experience planting testing plots on a goat farmer’s land, we at Mimnat have been testing various techniques.
Through hands-on experimentation and thorough research, we’ve amassed valuable insights into the nuanced process of Spekboom thicket restoration.
So, how do we tackle this colossal undertaking?
The answer, we believe, lies in a bit-by-bit approach.
At Mimnat, our goal is to acquire a piece of degraded land, gaining full control to prevent livestock from hindering the restoration efforts.
This also enables us to dedicate our efforts to restoring the Spekboom thicket in that specific area. Once accomplished, we plan to reintroduce the wildlife that once flourished there.
To sustain this initiative, we aim to leverage different avenues such as tourism, partnerships and ecommerce.
To create an entire business, create jobs, all for nature!
This piece of land won’t be just a restoration project; it will be our main “restoration hub.” Serving as a source for Spekboom cuttings and a base for planting on other degraded farms, it will become a beacon of change in the journey to rejuvenate our environment.
It will be a place where you can visit and enjoy pure peace in nature.
There is degradation going on worldwide, what makes us different?
Well, most of the degradation worldwide is all equally bad, what makes this different for us is this one is on our doorstep.
We aim to solve it, by providing goods or services that people normally consume, but instead of someone else getting rich and buying his/her next Lambo, we aim to push all profits toward nature restoration and wildlife conservation.
If you want to be part of this awesome mission, feel free to support our online shop!