The Limpopo Riverine Restoration Project

A partnership between landowners along the Limpopo River and local communities

With ongoing support from our clients, we continue to make progress in protecting and restoring the northern part of the Limpopo River basin a beautiful symbiosis of people and planet – enhancing biodiversity conservation, soil fertility, climate change resilience, sustainable growth and upliftment of rural communities, successfully reversing the damage caused by years of neglect, exploitation and predation.

This area is aggravated by grossly insensitive clearance for the border fence in past decades, heavy grazing and trampling by cattle (usually driven across the Limpopo River in the dry months by Zimbabwean cattle herds seeking pasture) and increasingly frequent and more severe flood events.

Declared a UNESCO Biosphere reserve area in 2009.

The Restoration of forest eco-systems is slow and laborious. It’s low-tech, labour-intensive and takes native knowledge and understanding of living systems. In other words, a perfect fit for both us and the community which lives in the surrounding area…

The Tshivenda and Tsistonga-speaking people of northern Limpopo remain deeply connected to la Mupo, a Tshivenda word meaning all of nature and creation. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and practices utilising renewable natural resources form a part of daily life in the Vhembe region. The Mapakoni community depends on the surrounding bushveld and forest for firewood, wild-harvested plants and edible insects, such the nutritious and delicious mopane worm, for food and traditional herbal muthi or maine medicine, and for grazing.

Forests are more than just trees – they are:

· A vital water source for fauna, flora and the local communities

· Habitat for many species, including endangered species like the Pels Fishing Owl and Southern Ground Hornbill

· Stabilization of the Riverbank and prevention of soil erosion

· Essential in absorbing carbon

· Assist in combating climate change.

The Lowveld Riverine Forest Conservation Status has been declared as Critically endangered, with a Conservation Target – 100%.

Nature is resilient. One tree at a time, where every cent truly does count.

Conservation-focussed, Community-driven: What’s been achieved to date,

· We’ve established a nursery on a landowner’s property in the Vhembe District allowing us to nurture and grow endemic trees from seed which are planted along the Limpopo River

· Created a partnership with the neighbouring Mapakoni Community, enabling the women to participate in the restoration of the riverine project, earning an income from nurturing saplings grown from seed in our nurseries until they are ready for planting.

· Continue to donate 3 % of every sale made via eco-promo.co.za, to this incredibly worthy project

The list of Trees found on the Banks of the Limpopo river at its most Northen site includes: (These seeds are nurtured in the nursery)

Sycamore Fig Ficus sycomorus subsp sycomorus

Fever Tree Vachellia xanthophloea

River Thorn Vachellia robusta subsp clavigera

Ana-tree Faidherbia albida

Weeping Boer-bean Schotia brachypetala

Apple-leaf Philenoptera violacea

Njala-tree Xanthocercis zambesiaca

Marula Sclerocarya birrea var caffra

Pod Mahogany Afzelia quanzensis

Brown Ivory Berchemia discolor

Baobab Adansonia digitata

Leadwood Combretum imberbe

Jackal-berry Diospyros mespiliformis

African Mangosteen Garcinia Livingstoneia

Championing Your Brand with Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Solutions, Restoring Forests and Supporting Local Communities.