A major spekboom restoration project outside Jansenville in the Sarah Baartman District, is backed by a major Global technology company. It aims to restore more than 50 000 hectares of degraded land and create about 11 000 jobs by 2030.
Described by Amazon, the project is one of the world’s largest carbon removal initiatives, which will include planting 180 million spekboom shrubs across the Eastern Cape to restore the Albany thickest ecosystem.
Providing long-term financial support for the restoration programme, the company stated that it will purchase 1.95 million tonnes of nature-based carbon removal credits generated by the project over more than a decade.
The initiative expands an active project established in April 2024, where 30 million spekboom cuttings have already been planted across 10,000 hectares. The latest investment will extend restoration efforts by more than 50,000 hectares.
The project is expected to generate over 500 million US dollars into surrounding communities through wages, local procurement, landowner payments and community investment, while creating training opportunities in ecological restoration.
The indigenous spekboom plant was selected for its ability to capture carbon dioxide, improve soil health and help restore damaged landscapes. Research has proven that mature spekboom can support the return of native grass, shrubs and trees, helping biodiversity recover. The project area is home to 165 recorded plant and animal species, including several considered vulnerable.
Amazon chief sustainability officer, Kara Hurst, stated that the initiative would combine environmental restoration with economic development.
“Spekboom is a natural wonder, but it cannot heal the land without help from the people who call the Eastern Cape home. This project will restore the ecosystem and create jobs,” said Hurst.
As stated by Amazon, the restoration project has received a pre-issuance “AA.pre” rating from independent carbon ratings agency BeZero Carbon, placing it among the top-rated afforestation and revegetation projects internationally.
The project forms part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge to accomplish net-zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2040.
