Large-scale ecosystem restoration depends on more than planting trees or shrubs. It requires local knowledge, long-term commitment and a deep understanding of the landscapes being restored.

In South Africa’s Eastern Cape, the Eastern Cape Restoration Project is restoring degraded thicket ecosystems through the reintroduction of Spekboom (Portulacaria afra), an indigenous plant known for its ability to support biodiversity recovery, improve soil health and sequester carbon. Working on the ground to make this restoration possible is Frikkie de Beer, Project Manager for the initiative.

In this interview, Frikkie shares his personal journey into environmental restoration, explains why Spekboom plays such an important role in ecosystem recovery, and discusses the long-term vision for restoring biodiversity across the landscape.

Dear Frikkie, explain to us who you are, what you do for a living and why you do it.

I am Frikkie de Beer, born in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. I am 41 years old. From a young age, I felt most at home in nature, which naturally led me to study Game Ranch Management and begin building a career in the environmental sector.

Over the years, my career has taken me through diverse fields including agriculture, nature conservation, construction, and social work. I always thought that my career was so diverse and wondered in what direction I would specialise. That is, until I found this job. All my experiences, qualifications and passions suddenly came together into this one job. I love working in nature while I make a difference in people’s lives and at the same time better the environment.

From your perspective as someone working on the land, what makes Spekboom such a special plant?

Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is a succulent plant indigenous to South Africa and naturally found in the thicket ecosystems of the Eastern Cape. It is particularly well suited to semi-arid environments and is highly efficient at capturing and storing carbon dioxide within its biomass and the surrounding soil. Through photosynthesis, it converts atmospheric carbon into roots, stems, and leaves, contributing meaningfully to climate mitigation within its native biome.

Beyond its carbon storage potential, Spekboom plays a powerful ecological role. As leaves fall and decompose, they add organic matter back into the soil, improving soil structure, nutrient availability, and water retention. Over time, this helps restore degraded land, rebuild soil health, and create shaded, cooler microclimates that allow other indigenous plant species to re-establish and thrive.

One of Spekboom’s most remarkable qualities is its resilience. In the semi-arid Eastern Cape Karoo*, it is able to survive and regenerate under harsh conditions. This makes it an ideal species for restoring landscapes that have been degraded by overgrazing and other forms of human pressure, supporting both ecosystem recovery and long-term climate resilience.

Can you describe how Spekboom thickets create microclimates that help other native species to re-establish themselves? And how important is the return of other indigenous plants alongside Spekboom for overall ecosystem recovery?

Spekboom thickets create much-needed shade so the soil does not dry out so quickly in the hot, semi-arid climate. When the leaves fall to the ground, they form a natural cover that helps protect the soil and keep moisture in the ground. Over time, these leaves break down and mix into the soil, improving the soil structure and adding nutrients back.

Spekboom acts as an “ecological engineer”, helping to create the right conditions for the natural thicket ecosystem to return. With better soil conditions and more moisture, other indigenous plant species are able to germinate, grow, and produce seed again.

An ecosystem cannot exist with only one plant species. It needs a variety of plants to attract different insects, birds, and animals, and each of these plays a role in keeping the system balanced. Many plants and animals in the area are specially adapted to live in this unique environment. If the ecosystem is not restored, some of these species can disappear.

Land degradation often happens when key species are lost due to human interference. When we restore Spekboom, we are not only planting one species, but we are helping to rebuild the diversity and balance of the whole ecosystem. In nature, diversity means health.

What is the vision for the conservation area planned around the restored Spekboom habitat? And how could it benefit both nature and people here?

The vision is for the project to become a legally protected area where we can reestablish all the original indigenous flora and fauna back into the area, from the smallest plant to the biggest elephant.

*A Karoo is a vast, high-altitude semi-desert or arid plateau region in South Africa.

Explore more about the Eastern Cape Restoration Project in this video:

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For decades, intensive grazing in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has transformed dense subtropical thicket ecosystems into degraded landscapes characterised by soil erosion, biodiversity loss and reduced agricultural productivity. As vegetation disappeared, significant amounts of carbon stored in plants and soils were also released.

The same was happening in our project area in South Africa. The Eastern Cape Restoration Project therefore aims to reverse this trend by restoring over 2,300 hectares of degraded land through the reintroduction of Portulacaria afra, commonly known as Spekboom. Spekboom is a resilient succulent shrub native to South Africa that plays a vital role in thicket ecosystems. By restoring this indigenous species, the project aims to rebuild ecosystem functions, support biodiversity recovery, sequester carbon, and create socio-economic opportunities for local communities.

A measurable contribution to climate mitigation

Restoring biodiversity in South Africa’s thicket ecosystems

The benefits of restoration extend beyond carbon sequestration. Healthy thicket ecosystems support a rich diversity of plant and animal species, as well as providing important ecosystem services. As Spekboom vegetation becomes established, conditions improve for other native plant species to return naturally. This gradual recovery process can increase habitat availability for local wildlife and strengthen the resilience of the ecosystem. Restoring vegetation cover also reduces soil erosion and improves water infiltration, supporting the long-term health of the landscape.

By rebuilding the ecological functions lost through decades of degradation, restoration contributes to the recovery of a more diverse and resilient ecosystem.

Supporting local communities through restoration

The Eastern Cape Restoration Project delivers socio-economic benefits to a region where unemployment rates remain high.

Local community members are directly involved in project activities, such as collecting cuttings, planting, maintenance and monitoring. These activities create employment opportunities while helping to build practical skills and environmental knowledge.

Workers participate in regular toolbox talks, which cover topics such as environmental stewardship, climate change, labour rights, health and safety, and financial literacy. The project also supports livelihood diversification by providing training opportunities in areas such as beekeeping and conservation guiding.

In addition to direct employment, the initiative engages with local communities by holding community events, supporting local schools, and distributing home vegetable garden kits to help ensure household food security.

Looking beyond carbon

Taking effective climate action increasingly requires an approach that addresses multiple environmental and social challenges simultaneously. Ecosystem restoration projects, such as the Eastern Cape Restoration Project, demonstrate how climate mitigation, biodiversity recovery, and community development can be advanced through a single intervention.

By restoring indigenous Spekboom thicket across degraded landscapes, the project is helping to rebuild ecosystem health, create local opportunities, and support long-term carbon sequestration. The project’s impact illustrates the potential of nature-based solutions to generate measurable benefits for people, the climate and nature.

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Carbon markets enter reality – Article 6 and the end of CDM

Opening of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) – photo by Raimundo Paccó/COP30

Forests, finance and nature-based solutions: new chances for long-term investment

Social dimensions, gender and just transitions – climate action beyond carbon

Sonia Guajajara, Minister for Indigenous Peoples of Brazil cries with a indigenous woman Angela Kaxuyana as they participate a signing ceremony for the delimitation of lands with National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples and the celebration of the declaration and homologation decrees for indigenous lands, at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) – photo by Ueslei Marcelino/COP30

One of the more important shifts at COP30 was the stronger recognition of the social and human dimensions of climate action. Reducing emissions is no longer enough: climate strategies must be inclusive and sensitive to community realities. A new Gender Action Plan (2026-2034) paves the way for more inclusive participation of women and girls in climate projects. At the same time, the expanded concept of “Just Transition” acknowledges that sectors and regions dependent on fossil fuels or vulnerable to change need targeted support, whether through job creation, social safeguards, and/or capacity building.

What COP30 means for companies, projects and climate investors

Building Bridges: Collaborative Climate Action under the Mutirão Spirit of COP30 – photo Rafa Neddermeyer/COP30 Brasil Amazônia/PR

COP30 did not deliver the grand breakthroughs some expected. There was no collective fossil-fuel phase-out roadmap, and no binding global commitment to end deforestation. Instead, the COP delivered something subtler: the architecture for action, finance, markets, and implementation. For businesses and climate-finance actors, this new landscape presents several opportunities:

• First, carbon markets under Article 6 are opening. Those who engage early, build strong baselines, ensure environmental and social integrity, and commit to transparency may help shape standards for years to come.
• Second, nature-based solutions are still in the spotlight. Long-term funds for forest protection, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable land use, including agroecology and regenerative agriculture, are likely to expand.
• Third, adaptation and social dimensions are becoming integral. Projects that combine mitigation, adaptation, community benefits, and gender-social inclusion are likely to stand out as especially valuable and future-proof.
• Finally, implementation matters more than ever. Reporting, verification, cooperation, and capacity-building – all become part of the climate-action toolkit. Delivering results will matter more than announcing intentions.

A new phase begins – welcoming the era of delivery

COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago during closing plenary meeting of the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) – photo by Ueslei Marcelino/COP30

COP30 may not have produced sweeping fossil-fuel phase-out commitments or global deforestation bans. But by closing the negotiation cycle and opening the implementation phase, it laid down a foundation for the next years. For Volkswagen ClimatePartner and our partners, project developers and investors, this is a moment to rise to the challenge: to design high-integrity carbon projects, support nature-based solutions, ensure social justice, and embed transparency and impact at every step.

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We would like to reiterate that Volkswagen ClimatePartner works closely with its project partners, Carbon Solve and SftFTZ, who are responsible for developing and managing the LMRCP.

Volkswagen ClimatePartner takes MISA’s concerns very seriously and believes that constructive dialogue can only be achieved through direct and meaningful participation of those affected, in a setting that allows for this, with the involvement of the project developer and the communities.

Following online and in-person meetings in Germany, it is now time to meet in Tanzania. We have invited MISA several times to meet in Tanzania and are awaiting their response.

We are convinced that holding another meeting in Germany would result in sensitive local matters being discussed without the input of those most affected, despite their voices being central to the issue.

Our offer of a joint meeting with MISA in Tanzania remains open. We are keen to engage in an exchange of views within a framework that ensures the participation of all relevant stakeholders and leads to practical solutions.

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We deeply respect the history, resilience, and challenges of the Maasai people. Our involvement in the Longido and Monduli Rangelands Carbon Project (LMRCP), implemented by our project partners Soils for the Future Tanzania (SftFTZ, the project implementing entity) and CarbonSolve LLC, is grounded in a commitment to improving rangeland health, supporting Maasai livelihoods, and promoting climate resilience through carbon finance. The project is designed to balance traditional pastoralist land use with sustainable land management while ensuring that Maasai communities retain full control over their land and benefit from participation.

In the following section, we would like to clarify several key points in response to the claims made in the MISA report:

1. Land Ownership and Rights

• SftFTZ does not acquire or control any land within the project area. All land titles remain entirely under the ownership of the Maasai villages, in accordance with Tanzanian law.
• The project does not involve land sales, leases, encumbrances or transfers to foreign or Tanzanian entities or individuals.
• Maasai communities will continue to exercise full rights over their land and maintain their traditional grazing practices.

2. Contract Duration and Flexibility

• There is a scientific consensus that soil restoration takes time. The 40-year duration of the project contracts is needed to support the reality that degraded grasslands, such as those in Northern Tanzania, can take several decades to recover.
• This long-term commitment ensures sustainable land regeneration and stable economic benefits for communities. The project agreements can be reviewed to reflect on experience with implementation. If one side does not meet its core obligations, the other side has the right to terminate the agreement through a defined process.

3. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Process

• Volkswagen ClimatePartner places a strong emphasis on FPIC, ensuring that all participating communities fully understand the project’s terms, benefits, and implications.
• The FPIC process begins with an early engagement to introduce the project, explain its broad concepts and its progression from introduction to implementation. This process includes, initially, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and results in the two project agreements, namely the Carbon Rights Assignment Agreement and the Benefit Sharing Agreement.
• Engagement includes women, youth, and village elders, with all agreements requiring final approval from the village assembly before implementation.
• Dedicated Maasai team members within SftFTZ lead consultations to ensure cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and transparency.
• An independent data management consultancy tracks all FPIC-related activities to document engagement and ensure full transparency.

4. Pastoralist Traditions and Grazing Practices

• The project is not designed to restrict Maasai traditions but rather to support sustainable pastoralism by preventing overgrazing and land degradation.
• The project does not disrupt traditional grazing but rather supports it with financial benefits, ensuring its sustainability while focusing specifically on preventing overgrazing.
• The project ensures flexible yet secure governance of grazing activities. While villages commit to core grazing principles, each village grazing committee designs a specific management plan that is agreed upon by participants. This plan can be adjusted over time to respond to changing conditions, emergencies, and community needs.

5. Fair Benefit-Sharing Mechanism and Initial Project Payments

• The project follows the Tanzanian legal framework on carbon trading, ensuring that revenues are distributed fairly among stakeholders.
• Benefit sharing is guided by the Tanzanian legal framework as further negotiated between the villages and SftFTZ with oversight from the district.
• Initial project payments are used to support project preparation. The payments are made after the Benefit Sharing Agreements have been signed and after the Rapid Rotational Grazing Plans have been developed.

6. Scientific Basis and Environmental Impact

• There is a broad consensus among the scientific community and global institutions, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that tackling soil and land degradation—including soil carbon enhancements—is vital for combating climate change. Carbon crediting serves as an additional tool to achieve these impacts.
• The project methodology applies a peer-reviewed soil carbon model, which has been approved by VERRA for use in relevant contexts, including arid and semi-arid regions of East Africa.
• The methodology requires ex-post soil sampling to determine the actual accumulation of soil carbon over time to avoid over-crediting.

Volkswagen ClimatePartner is committed to ensuring that our climate initiatives respect land rights, promote sustainable development, and create real benefits for communities. We are committed to ongoing engagement with Maasai communities, independent experts, and regulatory bodies.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Volkswagen ClimatePartner

communications@volkswagen-climatepartner.de

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Photo: UN Climate Change – Kiara Worth

We must balance ambition and reality in climate finance

One of the key outcomes was the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG), which commits richer countries to $300 billion per year by 2035. While this figure is a step in the right direction, it is not enough to truly empower vulnerable countries. Instead, all parties must drive innovation and high-quality projects that complement adaptation efforts, especially in regions where funding gaps remain. Joint efforts can amplify the impact of existing funds by prioritising high-impact, community-based solutions.

After years of debate, new decisions regarding Article 6

COP29 has delivered a breakthrough on Article 6, able to accelerate the potential of the carbon markets to reduce emissions and benefit people and the planet. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement outlines how nations can trade mitigation units in voluntary collaboration to achieve their climate goals. Under this article, the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) is a carbon credit trading system governed by the United Nations (UN) where private and public actors can buy and sell carbon credits. After years of negotiation, the rules for operationalising this system are now in place. The aim is to establish a system that involves high-quality and effective climate projects. Efforts have focused on simplifying approval and tracking processes to reduce complexity and ensure transparency, making the system more accessible and credible for countries and businesses.

Photo: UN Climate Change – Kamran Guliyev

Broader acceptance and support by the UN for carbon trading, transparency, and safeguards

In addition to progress on Article 6.4, advancements were made on Article 6.2, enabling countries to meet their climate targets through bilateral or multilateral cooperation. This approach enables direct country-to-country trading of credits to reduce emissions, known as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). The United Nations will officially recognise these trades, ensuring they are transparent and properly reported. To protect all parties involved, such as local communities, the agreement includes safeguards, including detailed disclosure about where the carbon credits come from, how they are monitored and used. Importantly, the agreement acknowledges the role of Indigenous Peoples and ensures their representatives are involved in the process. It also includes agreements on how to address any inconsistencies in project documentation and technical reviews, aiming to establish a reliable market with consistent quality standards. However, because countries have different views on issues like transparency and how credits should be used, further discussions are needed to fine-tune this framework. These frameworks will also significantly shape corporate carbon strategies and compliance, marking a crucial step in leveraging carbon markets to combat climate change effectively.

Photo: UN Climate Change – Kamran Guliyev

What does this mean for us?

COP29 reaffirmed the importance of technology-driven and nature-based solutions. While some Article 6.4 methodologies may require longer timelines to operationalise, other areas, such as sustainable agriculture and afforestation, are gaining momentum. Those are all areas that align with our expertise and potential for significant impact, so we keep putting our efforts into those. In addition, the focus on methane mitigation aligns with our mission to deliver high-impact projects. Tackling methane emissions is one of the fastest ways to slow down climate change. By exploring projects in this area, we can contribute to rapid and measurable climate benefits.

COP29 and VCP: A shared vision for climate action

COP29 highlighted the interconnectedness of finance, accountability, and innovation in tackling the climate crisis. For us, the conference was a call to action – a moment to reaffirm our commitment to delivering effective climate solutions. We used COP29 not only as an opportunity to engage with global stakeholders but also to refine our strategies in response to a rapidly changing marketplace. While we recognise that global efforts such as the $300 billion climate finance target are not yet enough, we remain optimistic about the transformative potential of mechanisms such as Article 6. These instruments can drive meaningful change, especially when combined with our focus on high-quality projects and innovative approaches.

Since we are dedicated to initiating and supporting high-quality climate protection projects worldwide, our commitment extends beyond strategic planning; we actively provide financial backing to ensure these initiatives are successfully launched and sustained. Our approach aligns with the broader goals discussed during COP29, emphasising the importance of actionable and financially supported climate solutions. While we are committed to making meaningful contributions, we remain mindful of setting realistic expectations within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) community. Our focus is on delivering tangible results through carefully selected and well-supported projects, ensuring that our efforts lead to measurable climate benefits.

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