Overberg pilot project turns cleared invasives into biochar and feed
A pilot project on the Agulhas Plain in the Overberg, South Africa, is converting cleared invasive plants into biochar and custom animal feed pellets to offset the ongoing costs of alien vegetation control. Run by the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area – a 47 000 ha conservation landscape established in 2008 – the project has installed a biochar reactor and a Bloemfontein‑built pelleting plant with support from Germany’s IKI Small Grants Programme. It includes South Africa’s first biochar facility registered with Switzerland‑based Carbon Standards International, positioning local farmers to seek carbon credits. The model offers a route to reduce net clearing costs, create stable jobs and strengthen water security and biodiversity that underpin nature‑based tourism.
Operationally, Port Jackson residue is being redirected into biochar for soil improvement and into feed pellets formulated with farmer‑supplied inputs, with initial sales under way and revenue returning to restoration teams. Biochar application rates of roughly 3–6 tonnes per hectare and potential carbon credit income could support scaled roll‑out and replication in other conservation-worthy regions. The Nuwejaars team aims to move from donor‑backed operations to a circular, self‑financing model, providing a practical blueprint for operators to secure long‑term alien clearing while aligning with ESG and climate objectives.
Source: GroundUp
