Take a moment to picture it. You’re standing in the Garden Route, South Africa’s emerald necklace. Below you, dramatic cliffs meet the restless ocean, while the ancient indigenous forests and the unique, endemic Fynbos biome burst with resilience. This breathtaking natural beauty isn’t just a view; it’s a primary, irreplaceable economic engine of the region, driving countless local livelihoods.

To sustain our thriving tourism economy, we must holistically invest in the nature that sustains it. We frame forest restoration not as the cost of conservation, but as a practical, high-value investment in the future of South African eco-tourism.

This philosophy powers the Khoinania Forest Restoration Project in Nature’s Valley. This collaboration focuses on restoring severely degraded land adjacent to the pristine Tsitsikamma National Park. Since its inception in 2019, this multi-stakeholder project, involving the Greenpop Foundation and the hospitality operator Wild Spirit Backpacker’s Lodge, has become a useful case study. The restoration efforts in Khoinania demonstrate a strong example for how long-term collaboration between conservationists and the hospitality sector can drive significant, tangible environmental action. We’re sharing this story because it showcases the potential of regenerative tourism: working together to turn degraded land back into a resilient, high-value eco-asset that attracts conscious travellers.

The Threat to the Tourist Experience

The land at Khoinania Farm functions as a critical buffer zone for the Tsitsikamma National Park. The quality of this transition zone directly influences the park’s integrity and the quality of the surrounding tourism landscape.

The primary threat here is ecological degradation caused by invasive species. Aggressive invaders, particularly black wattle, pine, and eucalyptus, smother endemic biodiversity and create volatile, ecologically diminished forestland. This environmental decline has a direct, negative impact on the tourist experience. Loss of unique appeal means visitors lose the unique experience of endemic forest birds and the delicate Fynbos they travel specifically to see. Increased Danger is caused by dense, highly flammable thickets of invasive alien species, which dramatically increase the fire risk, threatening the guesthouses and lodges that sustain the local economy. Furthermore, Diminished Value results from degraded land lessening the unique biodiversity and visual appeal of the region, which risks undermining the reputation of the entire Nature’s Valley/Tsitsikamma eco-tourism offering.

The stakes are clear: a failure to restore critical buffer zones such as this one between Khoinania Farm and the Tsitsikama Forest risks undermining millions in future regional tourism revenue. Protecting the environment is protecting the very market our tourism sector relies on.

Restoration as Infrastructure: Building a Better Visitor Asset

We approach this challenge with Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), a dedicated, science-driven process that is far more complex than simple tree planting. It is designed to build vital ecological infrastructure that actively enhances the visitor experience and fortifies the environment. Our focus is on creating a resilient and authentic regional asset.

Our efforts entail planting indigenous species and alien clearing, since 2019, we have diligently managed and restored 2.08 hectares of protected forest land. This work involves aggressive Alien Vegetation Management (AVM) and the planting of a total of 4,720 indigenous trees. The systematic removal of invasive species makes the environment safer, cleaner, and more appealing for hiking and bird-watching. We also implement earthworks and water regulation, including the construction of contour swales. These engineered features help retain water, prevent soil erosion, and dramatically improve water infiltration. This process ensures the restored area remains lush, resilient, and scenically appealing. Our focus on indigenous species means we exclusively plant species indigenous and endemic to the ecosystem, ensuring the restoration site becomes an authentic, reliable habitat for unique wildlife. This diverse mixture includes fast-growing pioneer species, such as Keurboom, alongside slower-growing, long-lived trees like Yellowwoods, White Ironwoods, and Forest Elders.

The integration of Wild Spirit, a prominent figure in the local tourism of the Garden Route, demonstrates that the restoration site is not a separate project, but a living part of the traveller’s journey, offering direct opportunities for engagement and educational walks.

The Tangible Boost to Eco-Tourism

A healthy ecosystem is a precondition for a healthy economy. The Khoinania project shows that this investment yields significant returns.

We are witnessing a dramatic rise of regenerative tourism. Today’s travellers seek destinations where their expenditure visibly supports active, tangible conservation. The Khoinania restoration site transforms into a compelling story and a powerful destination in itself. It attracts a high-value, environmentally conscious traveller who typically stays longer and invests more in the local economy.

Restoration creates economic opportunities that strengthen the community beyond traditional hospitality. This includes green job creation. The project provides sustained funding to the owners of Khoinania and supports the training and employment of local teams for the technical work of AVM, planting, and ecological monitoring. These specialised ‘green’ jobs empower people to become stewards of their environment and create sustainable income streams tied directly to conservation efforts. Furthermore, the project leads to enhancing regional resilience, with the revitalised buffer zone fortifying the Tsitsikamma National Park, which serves as the regional tourism anchor. By actively mitigating fire risk and invasive pressure, the project helps safeguard millions in tourism revenue for the entire Garden Route. The outcome is better experiences for every visitor: enhanced biodiversity, more diverse hiking trails, and improved water quality, leading directly to higher customer satisfaction and repeat visits.

A Model for Sustainable Destinations

The work at Khoinania provides a clear, scalable model: environmental stewardship and economic success are inextricably linked. The degraded land is now firmly on a path to becoming a thriving, income-generating, and resilient eco-asset.

We invite you to be part of the solution. Frame your contribution not merely as “planting a tree,” but as a vital investment in the sustainable future of South African eco-tourism and the natural heritage of the Garden Route.

Join the TREEvolution. When conservationists, local businesses, and travellers unite around the health of a vital ecosystem, the result is a destination that is richer, more resilient, and truly sustainable—for people and for the planet.

Photography by Juliette Bisset and Jessie Leverzencie.