This proposal is for a two-year project framed in the context of the United Nations Convention to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which aims to promote sustainable use of land-based resources in
the world?s drylands, whilst also recognizing the importance of participation of local populations and
ensuring that their livelihoods are secure. The project will be situated on the Bokkeveld Plateau on the
western margins of the Northern Cape Province, at the interface between the fynbos and Succulent
Karoo biomes.
The project aims to develop the capacities of small-scale land users and aspirant land users to manage
land sustainably and to rehabilitate degraded range and plough lands so as to enhance the long-term
viability of their farming operations.
Specific objectives of the project include planning and implementing land rehabilitation activities on
degraded rangeland and previously ploughed lands on the Avontuur conservation property so as to
serve as a living laboratory and learning venue for innovative techniques of rehabilitation of degraded
lands. The project will develop the capacities of land users, potential land reform beneficiaries,
learners and staff of service agencies to analyse land degradation problems, and to design, implement
and monitor practical interventions to address these. It will also enable local small-scale farmers on
the Bokkeveld plateau to plan and implement successful interventions to control land degradation and
enhance biodiversity and productivity of their rangeland and cultivated land through the provision of
mentorship services. Successful techniques and outcomes will be shared with local and global
audiences to enable others to learn from successful interventions.
The project will achieve specific results including the effective management of erosion on 100 ha of
severely degraded land and 400 ha of moderately degraded land on Avontuur using appropriate, low
cost interventions. A further 200 ha of degraded land on other properties in the Bokkeveld will be
secured and rehabilitated by small-scale farmers by the application of appropriate, low cost
interventions. At least 100 small-scale farmers will have developed capacities that will enable them to
practice sustainable land management of their farms, and at least 100 learners from local schools will
have learned the principles of sustainable land management, acquired skills and engaged in practical
work to rehabilitate degraded land. Furthermore, at least 35 members of staff of government agencies
and non-governmental organisations working with small-scale farmers in similar areas of the
Northern and Western Cape will have developed their capacities to rehabilitate degraded soils, and
will be in a better position to effectively provide support to small-scale farmers who are faced with
challenges of land degradation. A volunteer programme will recruit 20 volunteers to contribute to
combatting land degradation and promoting biodiversity restoration.
Monitoring of sites on Avontuur will provide sound scientific data on sedimentation and re-vegetation
of rehabilitated sites.
Dissemination of results will be achieved via publication of an illustrated manual on sustainable land
and water management, material posted on the Avontuur website and the production of an educational
film.
This project will be implemented in partnership between the Environmental Monitoring Group
(EMG) and Avontuur Sustainable Agriculture, as the latter is a relatively new legal entity and does
not have a financial track record. EMG and Avontuur Sustainable Agriculture have collaborated
closely since the foundation of Avontuur Sustainable Agriculture in 2009, and have managed the
grant funding that has been utilized by Avontuur Sustainable Agriculture.