Ecological Infrastructure

AYANGO BIODIESEL

Submitted by admin on July 25, 2023

Goal

To increase harvesting capacity through purchase of tools of trade (chainsaws, PPE, etc)

Investment Range / ROI

R500 000 - R5 Million
ROI - 35% pa

Public or Private Sector

This is a Private Sector Opportunity

Investment Readiness

Environment & Social Impact

• Job Creation
• SMME Development
• Socio-economic Development
• Net Biodiversity Gains
• Food Security

SDGs

Investment Opportunity at a Glance

 

Land Ownership and Governance

Land Ownership

Fully Restituted land with title deeds
The land is owned by the community

 

Governance Structure

Private Limited

Land Size

200 Hectares

Location

Eastern Cape

Investment Opportunity Assessment

Ecological Infrastructure


Core Operations

  • Land/veld management 
  • Invasive alien plant clearing and harvesting 
  • Invasive alien and plant benefaction
  • Water security

 

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Clearing of invasive alien species
  • Biomass beneficiation so as to drive economic benefit in addition to environmental benefit
  • Job creation to the unemployable due to lack of skills and education
  • Saving of water that is otherwise consumed by the invasive aliens
  • Enhancing biodiversity impact through clearing of invasive alien species

 

Investment Requirements

 

Investment Range Required
‍R500 000- R5 million

Type of Investment Required
‍Capital Expenditure
Infrastructure Funding
Working Capital
Other Goods & Services

Funding Type for Financial Requirements
‍Debt, Grant

Non-Financial Requirements
‍Capacity building

Value Proposition and Enablers

 

Value Proposition

  • Job creation
  • Saving water
  • Clearing invasive alien species with a view to optimise biomass for beneficiation purposes
  • Creating grazing land for the livestock

 

Key  Enablers

  • Abundance of invasive alien species: black wattle and eucalyptus
  • Trained and experienced staff members since they were involved in other related invasive alien clearing activities
  • Ready export market for firewood with an Off-take agreement over a 5 year period
  • Access to the forest/farm where the trees are
  • Logistics costs are mitigated

Business Operations

Ecological infrastructure

Primary Customers

 

Cape Town based company that is exporting firewood to UK

Active Business Entities

 

Ayango Biodiesel (Pty) Ltd.

About this Opportunity

 

 

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Alsson (Pty) Ltd

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Categories of Interest

 
Ecotourism
Bioprospecting
Wildlife Economy
Ecological Infrastructure
 

Areas of Work


Gauteng

Type of Intermediary

 
Ecotourism
Bioprospecting
Wildlife Economy
Ecological Infrastructure

Organizational Profile

Understanding the wildlife economy in South Africa and all the challenges value chain actors encounter, our skilled team could add value to any value

chain actor to improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness.

Services Provided

 

  • Business Planning
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Operational Plans
  • Financial Models
  • Help you to set strategic direction for growth

 

Biodiversity Experience

 

We have done various industry growth strategies, from game meat through to strategic planning for eco-tourism to leather growth strategies. Apart from such services our team have done more than 300 business plans to help new entrants or any value chain actor with understanding if their concept will be feasible and viable. Noting that such services could be invaluable to investors, specifically from viability, due diligence, and ROI perspective.

Current Biodiversity Projects

 

  • Game Meat Strategy for South Africa

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Crocodile River Reserve

Submitted by mahesh_admin on July 18, 2023

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Goal

To conserve, restore and manage biodiversity whilst ensuring a clean and healthy natural environment. This will include supporting green economy initiatives, promoting sustainable social and economic development and ultimately becoming a conservation reference model for other initiatives.

Investment Range / ROI

R5 Million - R20 Million 
ROI - 4% p/a

Public or Private Sector

This is a Public and Private Sector Opportunity

Investment Readiness

Environment & Social Impact

• Ecotourism Development
• Skills Development
• Job Creation
• SMME Development
• Socio-economic Development
• Expansion of Protected Areas
• Community Livelihood and Prosperity
• Landscape Restoration
• Ecosystem Restoration

SDGs

Investment Opportunity at a Glance

 

Land Ownership and Governance

Land Ownership

Other

Total of 3600ha protected area per NEM:PAA 57 of 2003. Crocodile River Reserve has 3200 hectares of privately owned land comprising more than 100 land portions from the Crocodile River Reserve. The land portions were formally Gazetted as Nature Reserve and Protected Environment in perpetuity under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (NEM:PAA) on 2 October 2019. There is a further 400 hectares of land owned by the Gauteng Government that has recently been incorporated into the boundaries of the Reserve. The Crocodile River Reserve is listed in the South African National Protected Area Register (NPAR).

 

Governance Structure

Other -Management Authority:

The Crocodile River Reserve is managed by the landowners who formed an NPO (095-125) - the Grassland Stewardship Alliance (GSA), which has been appointed as the Management Authority of the Reserve. The GSA works towards meeting the regulations to administer Nature Reserves, managing the biodiversity, as well as acting on behalf of its more than 94 Members that have committed their land to conservation. There is a formal Collaborative Agreement in place between the GSA and the GDARD which outlines the co-operation between the two. The agreement provides detail on various areas of support from the GDARD, for example access to scientific expertise and the various government projects in place related to bio-diversity protection.

Land Size

3600 Hectares

Location

Gauteng

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Investment Opportunity Assessment

Wildlife Economy


Other - Activities/projects that protect biodiversity

 

Ecotourism

 

Core Operations

  • Other - Environmental education and recreation

 

Activities

  • Volunteering of Alien invasive plant removal/5 reserve sector projects
  • Environmental education programmes > 300 learners per annum
  • Cycling and walking around heritage and natural attractions - 500 per annum
  • Monthly awareness events (Walks & Talks) 2 
  • Monitoring of Eco-crime - prevention volunteers in poaching, snaring, stripping of indigenous resources - regular snare walks, security company co-operation

Ecological Infrastructure

 

Core operations

  • Land/veld management 
  • Wetland management 
  • Rehabilitation/restoration 
  • Invasive alien plant clearing and harvesting
  • Other - Environmental projects by voluntary teams

 

Activities

  • Alien Invasive plant removal projects, infestation monitoring, staff training (20/yr)
  • Wetland rehabilitation (outside services - Working for Wetlands)
  • Fire management, fire protection (fire breaks)  - CRR Fire Protection Association
  • Environmental Crime (prevention, awareness, support of contracted security company)

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Establishment of a Clear Boundary demarcation/Physical Access control 
  • Acquisition of Land for CRR consolidation into a cohesive reserve footprint
  • Development of SMME that supports local economic upliftment
  • Development and Implementation of Environmental Protection Services to prevent environmental crimes     
  • Purchase of Vehicle/s that transportstaff and equipment on a need by need basis
  • Purchase and erection of Signage to increase visitors' awareness
  • Development of Biodiversity Inventory Database

Investment Requirements

 

Investment Range Required
‍R5 million - R20 Million

Type of Investment Required‍

  • Capital Expenditure
  • Working Capital
  • Infrastructure Funding 
  • Technical
  • Other - Capacity Building - Environmental Consultancy Services

Funding Type for Financial Requirements
Grant

Non-Financial Requirements
‍Technical services
Capacity building

Value Proposition and Enablers

 

Value Proposition

  • Clearly demarcated protected areas 
  • Expanded and Consolidated protected areas
  • Contribution to the socio-economic advancement of surrounding communities
  • Prevention of poaching and removal of indigenous fauna and flora and irrepaceable species
  • Source of Transport for essential environmental services that is fire fighting, alien control, poaching and site maintenance 
  • Leader in Public awareness & advocacy limits footprint in sensitive protected areas and prohibited activities.
  • Biodiversity Information Repository - In-depth knowledge of CRR biodiversity assets

 

Key  Enablers

  • Knowledge  and ability to monitor biodiversity characteristics in the CRR and its buffer zone 
  • Landowners in the CRR and buffer zone that are aligned to conservation imperatives
  • Clear and understandable communication to shareholders on legislation and biodiversity conservation
  • Consistent and visible response to transgressions leading to effective law enforcement
  • Access to finance
  • Access to high level expertise

Business Operations

Wildlife Economy

Ecotourism

Ecological infrastructure

Primary Customers

 

The CRR hosts up to 3000 domestic visitors per annum (students biodiversity awareness conservationists, outdoor activities and sporting individuals/groups, urban families and researchers.

Active Business Entities

 

Grassland Stewardship Alliance (GSA) NPO 095-125

About this Opportunity


The Crocodile River Reserve (CRR) has been proclaimed as a Protected Area according to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act of 2004.  By conserving biodiversity, CRR not only ensures that surroundings are richer and more diverse, but also secures the resources that will continue to provide improvements in the quality of human life. The Reserve boasts a variety of eco-systems and habitats within which there are many special species, some of them threatened and vulnerable. The Crocodile River Reserve’s programmes offer schools, universities and environmental interest groups the opportunity to learn about and experience biodiversity. Programmes envisioned by the Reserve takes into consideration that being on an urban edge there are a myriad of opportunities in identifying and working with established community leaders and organised groups in large areas where the population is diverse and highly fragmented.

The Reserve is looking to expand its impact on the natural and human environment, by introducing better security and access control, expanding through acquisition of adjacent land, SMME development, introduction of services to prevent environmental crimes, installation of signage to increase visitor awareness and development of a comprehensive biodiversity database.

 

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Environmental and Rural Solutions

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Categories of Interest

 
Ecological Infrastructure
 

Areas of Work


Eastern Cape

Type of Intermediary

 
Ecological Infrastructure

Organizational Profile

ERS is a social enterprise NGO based in Matatiele, established in 2002 by two women directors, with a focus on fostering healthy landscapes to support resilient livelihoods. ERS staff are all local and we employ between 50 and 200 local village residents in various projects from spring protection to alien plant

clearing and rangeland restoration. We work closely with corporates and WWF to support this work as part of catchment security investments through sustainable ecological value chains.

Services Provided

 

  • Partnership building
  • Impact investment management
  • Social facilitation and community liaison
  • Citizen science
  • Mentoring youth and graduates in field

 

Biodiversity Experience

 

  • Qualified, experienced socio-ecological facilitation with rural communities, linking people and landscapes.
  • Basic grassland ecology, water stewardship, soil science, alien plant management, co-creation of harmonious landscape-livelihood solutions.

 

Current Biodiversity Projects

 

  • Maloti Thaba Tsa Metsi protected environment
  • WWF water source area partnerships
  • DFFE NRM Working for Water

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GGF Africa

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Categories of Interest

 
Ecotourism
Wildlife Economy
Bioprospecting
Ecological Infrastructure

Areas of Work


KwaZulu-Natal

Type of Intermediary

 
Ecotourism
Wildlife Economy
Bioprospecting
Ecological Infrastructure

Organizational Profile

GGF AFRICA is a boutique investment banking firm offering corporate finance, transaction advisory, strategy and management consultancy services to clients in the private, NGO and public sectors. The firm has particular expertise in the key industries of agriculture; climate, environment and biodiversity; green energy; and tourism. Founded on the basic principles of

“service and value”, GGF Africa is built on five service pillars designed to strengthen our clients’ organisational capacity in the areas of Corporate Finance & Resource Mobilisation; Strategy & Implementation Support; Human Capital & Organisational Design; Internal Systems & Business Processes; and Customer Engagement.

Services Provided

 

  • Strategy & Business Plans
  • Financial forecasts & budgeting
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Training in business & financial
  • Business development &marketing

 

Biodiversity Experience

 

Experience in the biodiversity economy, with a particular interest in crafting business cases for the mobilisation of international investment capital into the Wildlife economy; Bioprospecting; Ecotourism; and investment in their respective value chains; and Ecological infrastructure. We have working knowledge of key institutional investors as well as NGO and public sector partners offering development support to actors in the Biodiversity sector.

Current Biodiversity Projects

 

  • UNDP BIOFIN funding for Biodiversity Economy
  • Game meat certification
  • AIP eradication & beneficiation

Maloti Thaba Tsa Metsi Protected Area

Submitted by mahesh_admin on July 16, 2023

Goal

To expand protected areas and strengthen their management, improve access to remote areas, including access to education; develop mechanisms to manage human-environment conflict and utilise mountain water sources in a more integrated highland-lowland interaction.

Investment Range / ROI

R5 Million - R20 Million 
ROI - 12% pa

Public or Private Sector

This is a Private Sector Opportunity

Investment Readiness

Environment & Social Impact

• Ecotourism Development
• Job Creation
• Skills Development
• SMME Development
• Socio-economic Development
• Expansion of Protected Areas 

SDGs

Investment Opportunity at a Glance

 

Land Ownership and Governance

Land Ownership

Land Restitution process underway
The protected area comprises of six Traditional Authorities, consisting of about 62 farms.

 

Governance Structure

Community Property Association
Joint Venture partnership

Land Size

49 797 Hectares

Location

Eastern Cape

Investment Opportunity Assessment

Ecological Infrastructure


Core Operations

  • Invasive alien plant clearing and harvesting
  • Invasive alien plant benefaction
  • Water value chain

 

Activities

Wattle tree beneficiation.
Piping infrastructure for pumping water from the higher mountain.

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Management of Water Conservation (Harvesting dams, spring protection, reticulation) bottled water sales
  • Rangeland Management, Building of Firebreaks, roads, paddocks & feedlots
  • Building a beef and mutton throughput abattoir      
  • Sheep rearing and shearing (stock, feed, shearing, meat, distribution)
  • Developing Aquaculture to establish fish and crocodile farms  
  • Purchase of equipment for eradicating Invasive species & biomass beneficiation
  • Marketing budget for hiking trails and camping hides
  • Training, skills development, & capacity building  is required for 6 communities

Investment Requirements

 

Investment Range Required
R5 million - R20 million

Type of Investment Required
‍Capital Expenditure
Infrastructure Funding
Working Capital

Funding Type for Financial Requirements
Equity, Debt, Grant

Non-Financial Requirements
Technical services
Capacity building

Value Proposition and Enablers

 

Value Proposition

  • Close proximity to a popular World Heritage Site, namely Maloti Drakensberg Park
  • Protected Biodiversity Stewardship Site
  • Unique landscape, biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Task Team in place trained to eradicate alien species in the area
  • The site has vast water supplies
  • Community-owned land with no legal disputes

 

Key  Enablers

  • Initiate and manage  water conservation and complementary nature-based business ventures; protecting and harnessing the natural water sources in the Maluti and Drakensberg mountains
  • Enhance existing community and socio-economic development initiatives
  • Develop a regenerative biodiversity business model to complement the ecotourism and recreation offering

Business Operations

Ecological infrastructure

Bioprospecting

Primary Customers

 

Local butcheries and meat consumers, sheep farmers, retailers, wool brokers and tourists.

Active Business Entities

 

Voluntary Association consisting of two representatives from each of the Traditional Authorities, ERS acting as a secretariat to provide administrative support, and relative specialists to assist with various responsibilities.

About this Opportunity

 

Maloti is a composite site consisting of about 62 farms, located in the Alfred Nzo District, Eastern Cape Province, in the lesser explored southern Drakensberg region, this site lies 70 kilometres from Kokstad, at the nexus of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and southern Lesotho.

The protected area comprises six Traditional Authorities, which form the core of the Management Authority for the declared Protected Environment. The name ‘Maloti Thaba Tsa Metsi’ was decided on by the Traditional Authority leaders together with stakeholders from the UCP support partners.

The anchor business is based on mobilising people around water conservation and linking it directly to socio economic development initiatives and revenue generating business.

The six Maloti chieftains and their people recognize that water is the source of life, given that mountain areas generate high precipitation and discharge essential water supplies into river systems, and water bodies.

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Yangle Enterprise

Submitted by mahesh_admin on July 10, 2023

Goal

To expand the number of sites and increase production by adding more kilns thereby creating employment opportunities.

Investment Range / ROI

R5 Million - R20 Million
TBC

Public or Private Sector

TBC

Investment Readiness

Environment & Social Impact

• Job Creation
• Skills Development
• SMME Development
• Community Livelihood and Prosperity

SDGs

No items found.

Investment Opportunity at a Glance

 

Land Ownership and Governance

Land Ownership

Other

Communal land under Tribal Authority with issued permission to occupy agreement.

 

Governance Structure

Private Limited

Land Size

470 Hectares

Location

Eastern Cape

View on Google Maps

Investment Opportunity Assessment

Ecological Infrastructure

 

Core Operations

  • Invasive alien plant clearing and harvesting 
  • Water security 
  • Water value chain

 

Activities

  • Clearing of 470 hectares of invasive alien plants 
  • Setting up mobile kraals to use cattle for rehabilitation through stampeding 
  • Processing of Invasive alien biomass to produce artisanal charcoal

 

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Production of Biochar products : These products are good for soil health management, greenhouse gas mitigation, addressing the most pressing environmental challenges. They have the ability to remediate pollutants and harmful contaminants
  • Establishment of a central production and packaging factory to create more jobs and skills. This will allow producers more time to focus on increasing production and profit while clearing additional land that will release more water into the rivers and more land will be returned to communities to utilize and combat poverty.
  • Apprentice college for charcoal production / school of industry: increasing the number of producers meaning opportunities for ambitious youth which will lower the unemployment rate. Production and sales will increase with more labour in sites 
  • Production of tar, vinegar and briquettes     
  • Offers great opportunity to tourism and agriculture as a link and enabler

Investment Requirements

 

Investment Range Required
R5 million - R20 Million

Type of Investment Required

  • Working Capital

Funding Type for Financial Requirements

  • Grant
  • Debt

Non-Financial Requirements
‍Technical services
Capacity building

Value Proposition and Enablers

 

Value Proposition

  • Product Forest Stewardship Council certification to attract more customers who value environmental traceable products      
  • Community owned land and business operations: rural communities need sustainable livelihoods (as per the sustainable development goals), which could be achieve by clearing more wattle, which opens other opportunities such as  regenerative agriculture,  livestock farming, and  ecotourism
  • Newly rehabilitated land supports ecosystem services and commercial opportunities 
  • New water released: 29.1 million litres of water saved from clearing 14.5 hectares of land
  • Products made from invasive alien plants provides a more sustainable use of invasive alien biomass

 

Key  Enablers

  • More charcoal-efficient kilns will increase production 
  • Output quality control measures to meet supplier specifications will increase customer trust which will have great inputs on sales
  • Invitation of more independent chainsaw operators with bigger targets to clear will ensure large numbers of biomass production, contributing to more increased production and sales
  • Focussed marketing strategy will enable more exposure to local and international clients. 
  • Skills development will enable the team to contribute effectively to the production. 
  • Upgrade of access roads will  decrease number of short haul trips, thus decreasing expenses and increasing  profits.  Money saved will be ploughed back into operations to increase profit.

Business Operations

Ecological infrastructure

Primary Customers

 

Domestic customers

Active Business Entities

 

Emabhaceni Development and Nature Solutions

About this Opportunity

 

Yangle Enterprise is a project of Emabhaceni Development and Nature Solutions. The aim of the Yangle is to produce eco-friendly charcoal, made from alien invasive species while helping to boost water security in the communities where they work. 

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