The Eastern Cape of South Africa is a treasure trove of biodiversity. With over 7,000 species of plants and more than 380 species of birds, it showcases a vibrant natural world. However, the region faces grave environmental challenges. Overgrazing, poor soil management, habitat loss, and climate change threaten its ecosystems. In this landscape of struggle, Hive Energy stands out as a powerful ally. Their groundbreaking strategy merges renewable energy with sustainable restoration and rejuvenates local ecosystems.
Understanding Hive Energy
Hive Energy combines clean energy production with responsible land management and maintenance. The main objective is to balance energy demands with the well-being of nature. Using solar and wind energy and eco-friendly methods, Hive Energy promotes environmental conservation and boosts local economies. Hive Ecosystems was established to rewild natural landscapes and capture carbon by growing vegetation. The primary aim of this initiative is to restore vegetation in thicket ecosystems on heavily degraded farms to sequester carbon. This will rejuvenate natural areas and contribute to combating climate change.
Hive’s land restoration project
Hive’s group company, Hive Ecosystems, is working on a land restoration project in South Africa. The team has been restoring degraded parcels of land across a 7,000-hectare farm area in the Somerset East region. The land in the region has been depleted of Carbon, Nitrogen and minerals from years of intensive overgrazing and bad agricultural farming practices. Hive Ecosystems has been working hard to clear the region of invasive plant species and repair the land by planting millions of spekboom cuttings. The project supplies jobs to locals, restoring soil health, and will ultimately support carbon sequestration.
What is carbon sequestration?
Carbon sequestration is the process of extracting carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in a reservoir or plants. This term can also refer to the capture and removal of carbon, where carbon dioxide (CO2) is taken from the air and stored in plant biomass through photosynthesis. When land cover is restored, carbon sequestration occurs as carbon dioxide is captured in vegetation and soil. Revitalised ecosystems can absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Restoring degraded land creates carbon sinks, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.
The importance of Spekboom in carbon sequestration
Spekboom plants use CAM (Crassulacean acid metabolism) photosynthesis, fixing CO2 at night as malate and releasing it during the day. They also allow stomata to remain closed during the day to reduce water loss, which is common in arid-adapted plants.
CAM plants open stomata at night to fix CO2 as organic acids stored in vacuoles. During the day, stomata close to prevent water loss, releasing carbon into the Calvin cycle for photosynthesis.
CO2 is fixed in the mesophyll cell's cytoplasm by PEP carboxylase, similar to C4 plants. Organic acids are stored in vacuoles for later use, as the Calvin cycle cannot operate at night.
Spekboom can regrow from cuttings and improve soil by shedding leaves that build soil organic carbon. Known as a miracle plant, it efficiently converts CO2 into fixed carbon, stimulates biodiversity, magnifies water infiltration, and requires little maintenance, surviving on 250–350mm of rain annually.
Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) absorbs carbon dioxide faster than most plants in semi-arid conditions, making it ideal for the thicket ecosystem. Historically covering about 1.7 million hectares in the Eastern Cape, it was heavily overgrazed by goats 200 years ago. Around 800,000 hectares are severely degraded, and 600,000 hectares are moderately degraded.
The Role of Hive Ecosystems in Restoring Biodiversity
Hive Ecosystems ameliorate biodiversity through organic farming and wildflower planting, increasing species diversity in agricultural areas by over 50%. These methods support local wildlife, stabilise ecosystems, and improve fruit yields by 30% via better pollination. The team advises local landowners on rehabilitating depleted areas with natural vegetation for productive use, such as pastures. They are exploring opportunities in the Albany Thicket biome to restore land degraded by overgrazing and intensive farming.
Upgrade Water Management
Water scarcity is a significant issue in the Eastern Cape, where droughts can decrease crop yields by as much as 60%. Hive Ecosystems advocates for efficient water management practices. Techniques like rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation allow farmers to utilise water sustainably. In regions where these methods are adopted, crop yields have increased by 20% compared to conventional irrigation methods. Additionally, establishing wetlands revives aquatic habitats and offers crucial water filtration, improving the water quality accessible to both people and agriculture.
Community Engagement and Education
Hive Ecosystems thrives on community engagement and education. Involving locals in planning and execution ensures that the solutions are effective. Community members learn sustainable farming practices that protect the environment, turning them into environmental advocates.
Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation
Ongoing assessment and adaptation are vital for Hive Ecosystems projects. The technology monitors ecosystem health, allowing rapid strategy adjustments. Real-time data on water and plant health enables immediate action, ensuring the project's long-term success. Tracking bird populations and plant growth reveals a 25% increase in bird populations in areas using Hive Ecosystems techniques, indicating a thriving ecosystem. This data-driven approach is vital for adapting to environmental changes and enhancing resilience.
Charting a Sustainable Future
Hive Ecosystems' impact in the Eastern Cape is profound. They combine renewable energy with sustainable agriculture to revitalise ecosystems and improve livelihoods. Focusing on biodiversity, water management, community involvement, and adaptive monitoring, they offer a roadmap for restoring the environment.
We face climate change and the outcomes of unsustainable practices where Hive Ecosystems provides hope. Community-led efforts aim to transform the Eastern Cape into a model of ecological resilience and sustainability. Together, stakeholders work toward a future where ecological balance and vibrant communities coexist and flourish. Hive Ecosystems has developed a 30-year restoration plan for the Thicket biome in the Albany area of the Eastern Cape that focuses on restoring vegetation in degraded thicket ecosystems to sequester carbon, aiding in natural restoration and combating climate change.
What does Hive's project plan entail?
Hive Ecosystems acquired 9030 hectares spaced over 5 degraded game farms located in the core of the critically endangered indigenous thicket zone. These degraded land areas have a notably low carbon base, increasing the potential for carbon gains. Hive Ecosystems plans to restore the natural vegetation on this land by primarily planting spekboom seedlings, which will sequester large amounts of carbon dioxide.
The original thicket was primarily degraded in this region during the mohair industry's boom in the early 1900s, which turned the Eastern Cape into the world's Mohair capital. Indigenous thicket vegetation in this area was suited to mohair farming. The Angora goat thrived on the thicket, which was abundant within a 300km radius of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
This boom led to a flourishing industry but resulted in the extensive destruction of these indigenous thickets. Overgrazing has created vast areas of low-value farmland unsuitable for farming but ideal for re-establishing them for carbon farming. Comprehensive analysis and mapping were used to pinpoint the most suitable areas for regenerating the thicket vegetation.
Strengthening ecosystem services
Restored land provides vital habitats and ecosystem services that enhance human well-being. These services include water purification, soil fertility, flood mitigation, and pollination. They contribute to increased agricultural productivity, supply clean water, and protect communities from natural disasters. Investing in land restoration amplifies these benefits and ensures a sustainable future. Additionally, restoring degraded land helps build resilient communities that can better withstand the impacts of climate change. This process often involves local communities, empowering them with knowledge, skills, and job opportunities.
Hive Ecosystems in 2025 and beyond
Hive Ecosystems has developed a long-term plan spanning 30 to 40 years aimed at rejuvenating the Eastern Cape Ecosystem. This year, the primary goal is to continue planting valuable spekboom. Due to the heat experienced in January and February, efforts have focused on growing seedlings in a nursery that covers 2.2 hectares. As the weather cools in March, the focus will shift to planting these spekboom seedlings in the veld at a rate of approximately 17,000 seedlings per day.
The current veld area now encompasses 9,030 hectares across five farms purchased for soil revitalization and the eventual rewilding of wildlife in the area. Hive Ecosystems currently employs 46 laborers from Somerset East, with plans to increase this number to 60 soon.
A total of 36,000 ponds have been established to conserve the scarce rainwater in the region, creating small green oases in the arid landscape. These ponds received a boost in September with welcome rain that continued until November. Although the rains were not heavy, some water was retained in the scattered ponds, preventing it from completely evaporating from the landscape.
Cape Vultures and Blue Cranes have returned to the land after being absent for several years. In the pursuit of biodiversity, other indigenous plants will be introduced once the spekboom phase is complete. It was observed that wildlife introduced after Angora goat farming degraded soil quality. Animals such as Impalas and Giraffes, brought in by game farmers, further harmed the ecosystem, and many of these species still need to be removed. Numerous wild animals introduced by the game farmers were unsuitable for the existing ecosystem and should not have been brought in from the start.
The important role played by Japie Buckle at Hive Ecosystems
Japie is dedicated to habitat, wetland, and ecological restoration, driven by his passion for wildlife and nature. Initially trained in forestry, he transitioned to conservation, significantly contributing to the Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site. His influence in the Eastern Cape includes initiatives for controlling invasive species, restoring wetlands and catchments, and managing fire and wildlife.
Now, Japie is leading an innovative and extensive rehabilitation initiative focused on restoration and carbon sequestration. In 2022, Hive Ecosystems acquired land for a long-term transformation and restoration project in the heavily degraded Albany Thicket biome. This land had been used for agricultural purposes, with livestock and game, for the last 150 years. The intensive overgrazing of the thicket vegetation led to the degradation of the vegetation cover, loss of topsoil, and depletion of essential nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and minerals.
To revitalize the area, Hive Ecosystems introduced rooted Spekboom cuttings, aiming to create jobs and enhance carbon sequestration. Since August 2022, under Japie's leadership, the team has planted over 200 indigenous trees, organized events focused on carbon sequestration and sustainable farming, and planted more than 850,000 rooted Spekboom cuttings on the land.
In November 2023, Japie Buckle, Managing Director of Hive Ecosystems, received the Order of the Bateleur from the South African Hunters & Game Conservation Association in recognition of his significant contributions to biodiversity conservation. Named after a Southern African eagle, this award honours his achievements. Japie dedicated the award to Hive for facilitating his work in habitat restoration. The Association commended his efforts as a restoration ecologist, highlighting his substantial impact on the ecology of the Eastern Cape and community empowerment. His innovative work extends beyond the Eastern Cape, influencing regions as far as the Orange River Mouth in the Northern Cape and addressing bush-encroached areas and wetlands in Limpopo and North West Provinces.
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