21 Proposed Research, Science, Technology and Innovation …
507
6 Diversified Products, Enhanced Reforestation,
and Pasture Revitalization
African forests and natural ecosystems are expected to decline (UNEP 2007), for
example, a forest clearance rate of 18 million hectares per year was stated by Swanborough (2016). Arresting the decline may require scientific selection and planting,
and reforestation of degraded woodlands and grasslands with appropriate trees and
grasses preferably indigenous non-invasive plants. Grasslands may require preferably
indigenous, nutritious, and palatable pasture plants that are fast-growing, droughtand salinity-tolerant, and with rooting systems ideal for soil and water conservation.
Top priority could be given to plants that provide multiple benefits, which may include
uses for fodder, timber, foodstuff, processing of fruit juices and other industrial products, water clarification, and medicinal products (e.g., moringa tree has many of these
uses). Concerted studies would be required on agronomy, post-harvest processes,
produce marketing, water use efficiency, and drought tolerance of the trees, as well
as their ability to restore natural pastures. The research may include formulation of
methods to scale up reforestation programs, implement targeted reforestation incentives, possibly using reforestation bonds, forest management bonds (UNEP 2007),
and cost-and-benefit sharing schemes. An assessment of the success of conservation and reclamation of degraded lands should determine the total value of benefits
from the ecosystem and net benefits of an intervention that alters ecosystem conditions, and it can identify winners and losers (for devising appropriate compensatory
measures) and potential financing sources for conservation and produce strategies
that make ecosystem conservation financially self-sustaining (UNEP 2007).
For reforestation and revitalization of pastures, research must reveal best agronomic practices for selecting trees that have multiple desirable traits for reclamation
and reforestation. For example, Makhado et al. (2016) showed that Colophospermum
mopane leaves, twigs, pods, and seeds are nutritious, and hence the mopane may be
a suitable tree for reforestation and revitalization of pastures in semi-arid areas.
Some challenges are that fresh mopane leaves are less favored by livestock during
the wet season due to the high levels of secondary metabolites such as phenols and
tannins (Hooimeijer et al. 2005; Wessels et al. 2007), which decline during the dry
season as the leaves mature and age. The mopane leaves are rich in crude protein
(8–16%) which is useful for livestock and wild animals, and for mopane worm
feeding. Research on how best to restore deforested lands and pastures can intensify
and optimize commercial production of stock feeds from indigenous tree products
(like twigs, leaves, pods, etc.) with high crude protein content. Research may also
experiment on partial domestication of some wild animals (like antelopes) that are
capable of feeding on crude protein-rich fresh mopane leaves (Hooimeijer et al. 2005;
Wessels et al. 2007). Antelopes such as oryx, kudu, and eland are adapted to drier
environments, and hence pilot studies are required on the compatibility and viability
of substituting traditional livestock (e.g., cattle) with harder animals like antelopes
and/or mixed production of antelopes and harder traditional livestock like goats.
507
6 Diversified Products, Enhanced Reforestation,
and Pasture Revitalization
African forests and natural ecosystems are expected to decline (UNEP 2007), for
example, a forest clearance rate of 18 million hectares per year was stated by Swanborough (2016). Arresting the decline may require scientific selection and planting,
and reforestation of degraded woodlands and grasslands with appropriate trees and
grasses preferably indigenous non-invasive plants. Grasslands may require preferably
indigenous, nutritious, and palatable pasture plants that are fast-growing, droughtand salinity-tolerant, and with rooting systems ideal for soil and water conservation.
Top priority could be given to plants that provide multiple benefits, which may include
uses for fodder, timber, foodstuff, processing of fruit juices and other industrial products, water clarification, and medicinal products (e.g., moringa tree has many of these
uses). Concerted studies would be required on agronomy, post-harvest processes,
produce marketing, water use efficiency, and drought tolerance of the trees, as well
as their ability to restore natural pastures. The research may include formulation of
methods to scale up reforestation programs, implement targeted reforestation incentives, possibly using reforestation bonds, forest management bonds (UNEP 2007),
and cost-and-benefit sharing schemes. An assessment of the success of conservation and reclamation of degraded lands should determine the total value of benefits
from the ecosystem and net benefits of an intervention that alters ecosystem conditions, and it can identify winners and losers (for devising appropriate compensatory
measures) and potential financing sources for conservation and produce strategies
that make ecosystem conservation financially self-sustaining (UNEP 2007).
For reforestation and revitalization of pastures, research must reveal best agronomic practices for selecting trees that have multiple desirable traits for reclamation
and reforestation. For example, Makhado et al. (2016) showed that Colophospermum
mopane leaves, twigs, pods, and seeds are nutritious, and hence the mopane may be
a suitable tree for reforestation and revitalization of pastures in semi-arid areas.
Some challenges are that fresh mopane leaves are less favored by livestock during
the wet season due to the high levels of secondary metabolites such as phenols and
tannins (Hooimeijer et al. 2005; Wessels et al. 2007), which decline during the dry
season as the leaves mature and age. The mopane leaves are rich in crude protein
(8–16%) which is useful for livestock and wild animals, and for mopane worm
feeding. Research on how best to restore deforested lands and pastures can intensify
and optimize commercial production of stock feeds from indigenous tree products
(like twigs, leaves, pods, etc.) with high crude protein content. Research may also
experiment on partial domestication of some wild animals (like antelopes) that are
capable of feeding on crude protein-rich fresh mopane leaves (Hooimeijer et al. 2005;
Wessels et al. 2007). Antelopes such as oryx, kudu, and eland are adapted to drier
environments, and hence pilot studies are required on the compatibility and viability
of substituting traditional livestock (e.g., cattle) with harder animals like antelopes
and/or mixed production of antelopes and harder traditional livestock like goats.