Research Projects

Planting Spekboom is the primary focus for restoring the more arid forms of Subtropical Thicket. We conduct a wide range of experiments (in the field and in the laboratory) to find new ways to improve survival, growth and restoration.

In the arid forms of Subtropical Thicket, Spekboom is an ecosystem engineer ​— meaning that it makes substantial changes to the environment ​— as it increases water infiltration, decreases evaporation, and increases carbon sequestration. We quantify how Intact and Restored Thicket contributes to the functioning and services provided by these ecosystems.

The Thicket-Wide Plots are part of one of the largest restoration experiments conducted globally. The experiment has been untended for more than a decade. We are rebuilding the database and aim to develop a community to maintain these plots into the future.

Please click here for more information.

Using drone imagery, we are able to determine the amount of Spekboom truncheons that survived and calculate the estimated carbon sequestered within each plot.

There is still much we don't know about Spekboom and its interactions with its natural environment. Our aim is to explore its ecology to better understand Thicket and how to use Spekboom for restoration.

If you are interested in the scientific articles surrounding Spekboom Restoration, please click here.