900 hectares of alien plants cleared in Upper Letaba
K2C cleared 900 hectares of invasive plants, saving 200 million litres of water annually and boosting community engagement.
LIMPOPO – Kruger to Canyons Biosphere (K2C) cleared nearly 900 hectares of invasive alien plants (IAP) in the Upper Letaba water catchment area in 2024.
Through their Upper Letaba Restoration Project launched in March 2024, more than 200 million litres of water annually are recovered by clearing the IAPs, K2C said in the summer edition of their newsletter.
According to project manager Johan Coetzer, most of their efforts were focused on areas near Haenertsburg, south towards the base of the Iron Crown, and along Ebenezer Dam.
He said in 2025 their efforts will shift further north of the R71 in Magoebaskloof.
K2C, based in Hoedspruit, is an NPC established in 2011 and works towards the sustainable relationship between socio-economic development and the conservation of natural resources.
“While the project’s primary objectives focus on water restoration and environmental rehabilitation, it has also strengthened community engagement and has sparked meaningful conversations about conservation, fostering interest in sustainable grassland management, stewardship and the ecological importance of native species,” K2C reports.
“Clearing efforts have also uncovered indigenous trees previously overshadowed by dense IAP growth, which has inspired efforts to establish a local indigenous tree nursery, further promoting ecological restoration and community involvement. In addition, the project has created avenues for research, particularly in evaluating grassland health under different management practices.”
They say in 2025, they plan assessments that will explore pollinator activity as a measure of ecosystem health.
“These studies carried out in collaboration with Mountain Environmental Watch (MEW) and the University of Limpopo, are expected to inform strategies for preserving grassland ecosystems.”
The project owes its success to funders Coca-Cola, partner The Nature Conservancy, local landowners, and collaborators such as MEW, the University of Limpopo and Friends of the Haenertsburg Grasslands (FroHG).
“The K2C team and their contractor, Hlole Development Projects, are committed to building on the achievements of 2024, driving further conservation efforts in the Upper Letaba catchment throughout 2025,” they conclude.
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