RETURN TO THICKET (RTT) is an initiative dedicated to the large-scale ecological restoration of over one million hectares of dense, forest-like thicket degraded by overgrasing in South Africa’s Eastern and Western Cape, with the dual purpose of reversing desertification and generating carbon credits as a core funding mechanism. 

The project’s vision is to transform the arid, degraded areas, which have released over 350 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare, back into their former pristine state of indigenous, luxuriant growth. The core of the restoration strategy involves planting spekboom (Portulacaria afra) cuttings, a cost-effective and environmentally sound method that is highly efficient at capturing carbon and regenerating the landscape without the need for irrigation. 

This effort not only reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide but also creates thousands of rural jobs, significantly enhances biodiversity, reduces soil erosion, and boosts local economic activities like ecotourism and sustainable livestock farming. By offering scientific and financial expertise, Return to Thicket helps landowners design restoration protocols, monitor changes in carbon stock, and navigate complex international carbon markets, particularly through bundling projects to achieve economies of scale and ensure an attractive internal rate of return for investors.