Grootbos Carbon Project
- Technology › VCS VM0006, DEFRA emissions factors
- Project developer › Grootbos Accommodation Enterprises
Description of the Project
PROGRESSIVE. NATURAL. INCLUSIVE. These are some of the values of Grootbos, a private eco-reserve and accommodation site located in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom on the coast of the Southern tip of Africa.
The Grootbos team goes beyond simply conserving and rehabilitating the wilderness that surrounds them. They are constantly researching, innovating and pioneering. In the process they are setting conservation precedents, transforming lives in their local community and redefining what it means to be human in the midst of botanical and wildlife treasures. A stay at Grootbos is undeniably luxurious, but the ethos that informs the Grootbos eco-reserve respects all life and in which conservation is not a luxury good but a form of progress. At a time when talk of ‘rewilding’ and ‘equity’ are becoming common parlance, Grootbos is giving these terms practical and visible meaning.
It is from these values that the Grootbos Carbon project emerged to contribute to environmental and social change in an around the eco-reserve. The Carbon project captures the additional greenhouse gas reductions and removals that can be attributed to Grootbos’ land management, renewable energy, solid waste recycling and green waste composting activities.
Visit Grootbos here to view their contribution to conservation and here to view how they support their local community.
Project Benefits
In line with Credible Carbon requirements, 100% of the income generated by the sale of carbon credits is paid directly to the Grootbos Foundation to support the Green Futures Education and Green Futures Conservation Projects.
Covid also placed local communities that surround Grootbos under a huge amount of strain. See the Grootbos response to Covid here.
To purchase carbon credits:
The carbon credits generated by the Grootbos Carbon Project are earmarked for guests and associates wishing to offset their travel to Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, encouraging a carbon neutral travel experience. To enquire further about purchasing credits, please email bookings@grootbos.co.za.
Grootbos Project Idea Note
The Project Idea Note (PIN) is used as a reference document against which the appointed carbon auditor can verify the project’s monitoring processes, claimed emission reductions and poverty alleviation co-benefits. The PIN is similar to the Verra/VCS Project Description document.
Learn more about Grootbos Nature Reserve
Grootbos nature reserve was started in 1991 with the purchase of the original 121-hectare Grootbos farm. The land had previously been used for livestock grazing, flower production and grain farming. The farming process required regular burning and some ploughing and ripping of the land. Hardwood timber was harvested from indigenous forests for firewood. The purchase of the farm saw the discontinuation of all farming, and the introduction of active measures to restore the natural vegetation and sequestrate carbon. Grootbos has expanded its physical footprint, with the last property being purchased in 2017. Grootbos now encompasses 2 560 hectares of fynbos and forest ecosystems securing land for conservation from agriculture.
Land use practices include reforesting 8 390 indigenous trees to increase woody biomass of the reserve. These are slow growing, fire-resistant, hardwood trees that are being added to the indigenous forest areas that had become depleted by wood harvesting. Further to this is the Grootbos’ stewardship programme involving land management to reduce the risk of fire across the full extent of the 2 560 hectares. This includes controlled low intensity burns of the fynbos biome and removal of invasive alien plants that would otherwise provide a heavy fuel load for natural fires and result in more intense burns. Relative to high intensity fires, low intensity burns result in less soil carbon loss, less leaf litter loss and reduced fire penetration of indigenous forests.
Grootbos has also invested in the installation of a photovoltaic array displacing over 50 000 kWh per year, which is between 3% and 5% of the total electricity demand, and which they plan to expand over the coming years.
Much effort has been put into reducing waste disposal at Grootbos. Initiatives such as sourcing local spring water, home grown fruit and vegetables and locally produced honey have reduced waste significantly. In addition, Grootbos has implemented a solid waste recycling and composting program to divert waste from landfill and avoid the otherwise damaging emissions of methane gas into our atmosphere.
These combined efforts by Grootbos have generated greenhouse gas savings of 7 659 tonnes of CO2-equivalent over the last 3 years and there are plans in place to continue to reduce emissions in order to preserve the environment and contribute to their community.
Total Credits Sold: 7 659