carbon credits

SPEKBOME | BACON TREES

Spekboom is something of a 'superplant' when it comes to its extraordinary carbon storing capabilities. Data gathered over the last 7 years show that carbon storage in intact spekboom thicket in the arid South-Eastern Cape exceeds 20kg of carbon per square metre of vegetation, which is equivalent to that of most tropical forests.

Tens of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide will be captured from the atmosphere by large scale restoration. This will generate credit either as green acclaim for restoring natural capital and biodiversity, or as fungible carbon credits which can be traded on the carbon market. Both credits – green and carbon - can deliver attractive financial returns on investments and both will enhance income streams in rural areas.

Carbon credits earned via restoration are best suited for trade in the voluntary carbon market where buyers place high value on the sustainability of a project, often paying a premium for carbon capture which provides benefits for rural livelihoods and biodiversity. These buyers include companies which are not necessarily legally bound to reduce their emissions, but which include mitigation of climate change within their strategy for corporate social responsibility

According to the study done by A. J. Mills and R. M. Cowing, the valley thicket sequestrate 4 tons of carbon per hectare per year and the arid thicket 2 tons of carbon per hectare per year. Using this numbers and the hectares provided from the GIS, Dr Analise and Jan Vlok calculated moderately, 5520t/C/yr for the conservation land . This calculation is done only for the spekboom, excluding the other thickets growing between the spekbome.

Example

Calculation of the Carbon Sequestration:

Total = 2223 ha
ha = Valley Thicket
750 ha = Arid Thicket

4t/ha/yr for Valley Thicket 2t/ha/yr for Arid Thicket

1005(4) + 750(2) = 5520t/C/year

5520t/C/yr for Spekboom (Portulecarie afra) only.