Page 36 - SDG Report

BUFFELSDRAAI REFORESTATION PROJECT
The Buffelsdraai Reforestation Project was established by eThekwini Municipality’s Environmental Planning and Climate Protection Department. It is situated in the buffer zone of the Buffelsdraai Landfill Site, near Verulam.
The project aims to alleviate some climate change impacts associated with Durban hosting several 2010 FIFATM World Cup matches. A carbon footprint of 307 208 tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) was declared for the event, and the Reforestation Project seeks to offset approximately 42 214 tonnes of carbon over a 20-year period. In 2016, the Municipality took the decision to drastically increase on-site biodiversity, through a dedicated Biodiversity-Add initiative. This means that the project is no longer just for carbon offset, but also for biodiversity protection and improvement of ecosystem services.
The project now showcases the role those natural ecosystems play in supporting the livelihoods and resilience of local communities. The project continues to support local people who grow indigenous tree seedlings that are exchanged for food and other goods. The project was validated by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance, and achieved a Gold Standard for ensuring exceptional climate change adaptation benefits as well as for benefits to local communities and biodiversity.
To date, over 950 000 plants and trees (comprised of over 140 species) have been planted at Buffelsdraai. The forest provides a range of ecosystem services, including enhancement of biodiversity refuges and water quality, river flow regulation, flood mitigation, sediment control, improved visual amenity and fire risk reduction. Such services enhance the long- term climate change adaptation benefits derived by local communities, as well as short- term resilience to dangerous weather patterns. The forest may also help to regulate local rainfall patterns.
Creating new space for nature within the urban fabric – even within the centres of cities – can alleviate the pressures of urbanisation. In Buffelsdraai, 36% of households had no refuse disposal and 83% had no running water within their dwellings. People relied heavily on collecting natural resources for food, fire, water, and medicine.
34 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS GOOD PRACTICE