Avo Solutions
Green Businesses in Matatiele Receive Herbicide Support to Combat Invasive Species
In August 2024, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), in partnership with Avo Vision, provided herbicide to 14 green businesses in Matatiele. These businesses play a crucial role in clearing invasive alien plants, which consume significant amounts of water and pose a threat to local biodiversity. Through Avo Vision’s Green Business Value Chain Programme, these businesses have sustainably cleared over 250 hectares of wattle since the end of 2020, restoring 500 million litres of water per year and livestock grazing rangelands.
Key to the permanent removal of alien and invasive species is the aftercare on rangelands that ensures that the impact of the efforts is sustained. The application f herbicide, amongst other strategies, is one way to drastically reduce the chances of regrowth. The Green Business Value Chain is a programme that supports businesses in rural areas involved in nature-based sectors such as Working for Water, conservation, and alien invasive species clearing programmes. Our support for these social and environmental entrepreneurs includes business acumen training, technical coaching, and mentorship. Avo Vision’s efforts in facilitating access to markets and finance are indispensable to the success of these enterprises. The aim of this programme is to restore landscapes to their original state, supporting biodiversity and providing community benefits such as agricultural grazing and water restoration.
The donation included 260 litres of Astra herbicide, 260 litres of Lumberjack herbicide, 52 litres of blue dye, 390 kg of Kilomax, and 33 kg of Kaput Gel. This support will enable the 14 businesses to clear approximately 228.87 hectares of invasive plants over how long?. The aim is to foster a sustainable environment by ensuring the regrowth of these species is prevented.
One of the business owners, Pinkie Mdleleni of Terra Community Services, expressed her gratitude: “This support will really help us, as we have been struggling with the regrowth of cleared areas, making us feel like our efforts were in vain. The cost (of herbicide) is significant and takes away from our profits.”
Since 1995, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment had spent approximately R1.8 billion per year on removing invasive species. Thumeka Mdlazi, Deputy Director of the DFFE, emphasised the importance of this programme, especially because Matatiele is one of South Africa’s key water source areas. “This is one of the three pilot projects we are supporting. It is our department’s mandate to ensure the removal of invasive species, followed by the application of herbicide. This is a heavy financial burden for small businesses trying to create jobs and alleviate poverty,” she said. The herbicide support provided is worth R11,660 per business.
The Green Business Value Chain Programme maps locations where large infestations of alien and/or plants have caused water sources to dry up, rangelands to deteriorate and agricultural livelihoods to be affected. A major aspect of the programme is to work with local communities to identify, select and train entrepreneurs to become efficient business owners capable of removing invasive plant species. The biomass from these plants is beneficiated through micro-industrial, artisanal set-ups that produce value-added products, such as firewood, charcoal, biochar, briquettes and animal feed
In addition to helping businesses identify invasive species, Avo Vision also facilitates the sale of products and works with local and international partners to market and distribute products made from invasive biomass. Clearing these alien species not only strengthens South Africa’s water security but also provides economic benefits and improves the livelihoods of local communities through the businesses it stimulates.
