carbon offset project .s e l f - c a t e r i n g   f a r m   r e t r e a t . o v e r b e r g . c a p e  p r o v i n c e .  s o u t h  a f r i c a
Reduce YOUR impact on our wounded planet.
          Off set your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions on M a L p l a a s !

What we are doing

                      If we're not neutral, we're moving backwards.

We ALL contribute to global warming. Children visiting MaLplaas often comment that they never want to hear the words global warming again. This concerns us greatly as it not our world anymore but theirs. Global warming and climate change are the tragic heritage our little friends will inherit from us. 

We have been afforded an opportunity on MaLplaas to invest in the future. In six short years we have experienced unusually severe drought and floods, witnessed the decline of certain species of endemic wildlife and the proliferation of invasive alien species - indicators of a changing and increasingly extreme climate over which we have no control. However the sense of helplessness we once surrendered to when living in the city has been replaced by a healthy dose of common sense and hope!

On MaLplaas we endeavour to live a simple, slow and mindful existence. Investing in new energy-efficient technology is still prohibitively expensive, but we continually implement small but significant changes in our life style that will benefit the environment. And we plant trees. Hundreds and hundreds - cultivated from seed or cuttings, replacing invasive alien trees with indigenous and food-bearing varieties whenever we can afford to purchase saplings. Because we can.

We aspire to being respectful custodians of a rather large garden (140 hectares) and hope to leave behind a legacy of sustainable living in the form of a poly-cultural Food and Resources Forest and indigenous Renosterveld nature reserve. Natural resources are managed and preserved with ongoing (often frustratingly unsuccessful) attempts at self-sufficiency and sustainable organic agriculture. We recycle, re-invent, re-use, replenish and restore wherever we can. Because we must.

What can YOU do?

                      Together we can make a world of difference, and make a difference to our world.

                      Take action to counter Global Warming - become Carbon Conscious.

MaLplaas invites YOU to take an active role in neutralizing your carbon emissions and reducing your impact on global warming by offsetting the rest of your carbon-emitting energy use through our easy-to-use Carbon Calculator and contributing to the MaLplaas Carbon Offset Project. We offer you the opportunity to make a real difference and become 'Carbon conscious'. Once you do - tell the world, or at least a few friends. You might encourage them to do likewise!

For as little as ZAR 250.00 you can sponsor an indigenous tree and its propagation and you will be making a pro-active contribution towards the future of our planet. 

Each tree planted 'offsets' your environmental impact by 'breathing' in about 730 kg CO2 emissions over its lifetime. It is estimated that the average person needs to save about 7,000 kg of CO2 per year. Planting just 10 trees each year is one simple strategy for achieving this.

                 

The indigenous and food-bearing trees we plant on MaLplaas not only replenish sustainable habitats for wildlife but enhance the natural landscape, much of which was disturbed by rampant alien vegetation, or damaged by mono-crop farming and soil erosion. We commenced the MaLplaas Carbon Offset Project in 2003 by clearing invasive alien vegetation from areas of river bank. Unfortunately the indigenous trees we planted there were washed away in a flood of biblical proportions a year later, but we have subsequently planted more Yellowwood and Wild Fig trees. In 2006 we carved terraces in the hill below MaLkop which were planted with a variety of fruit and nut trees. All the avenues on MaLplaas are now lined with trees. In six years the numbers of certain wild birds and insects have increased dramatically - ample reward for our efforts. There are plans for further swales and tree terraces, creating a Food Forest comprising perennial fruit trees and annual vegetables with different root depths. The larger trees will in time cycle nutrients and minerals back to the surface for the vegetables. The permanent aspect of the forest will consist mostly of useful perennial species with soil conditioning plants and annuals planted inbetween. The MaLplaas Carbon Offset Project will demonstrate how it is possible to become more agriculturally productive in the short term and more permanently sustainable in the long term, besides planting thousands of trees to offset our carbon emissions and enriching the environment.  

'Tree planting is a contribution towards addressing the issue of global warming, but only as a complement to the most important action – 
reducing the use of fossil fuels and the emissions of carbon dioxide that entails.'  Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life Executive Director

How can YOU take action?

Here’s how:

  1. Whether you’re an individual, or a business, we can help you work out whether your ‘carbon footprint’ is broadly low, medium or high. Based on this you might make an annual donation which provides us with essential funds to plant and propagate trees on MaLplaas and in the local community. This could be one part of your personal contribution towards tackling global warming.
  2. The next step involves making a simple commitment to any positive changes in your lifestyle or business which will reduce your fossil-fuel based carbon emissions. These changes are essential if we really want to make a difference.
What YOU will accomplish:

          
example of MaLCOP certificate and three options of wallpaper
Now take action!
Step 1 Work out your carbon footprint

This table is intended to give you a very approximate idea of what your relative emissions might be like. 
Not everyone fits neatly into a category, but it will give an indication of how much you could consider donating:

MaLplaas Carbon Footprint Calculator

Individual / Family

Light energy user Medium energy user Heavy energy user
Drive less than 5000 km p.a. Drive around 10,000 km p.a. Drive more than 10,000 km p.a.
Often use public transport Occasionally use public transport Seldom use public transport
Fully insulated home Partially insulated home Non insulated home
Regularly walk for short journeys Occasionally walk for short journeys Seldom walk for short journeys
We suggest that you donate around R2 500.00 for the planting and nurturing of 10 trees. We suggest that you donate around R5 000.00. 
This will allow us to plant 20 trees on your behalf.		 We suggest that you donate around R10 000.00 - sufficient to plant 40 trees on your behalf.

Business

Light energy user Medium energy user Heavy energy user
Employ less than ten people Employ less than 100 people Employ more than 100 people
Service industry Service industry Manufacturing industry
Transport few goods Transport some goods Transport many goods
No car pool Operate a car pool No car pool
We suggest that you donate around R5 000.00. This will allow us to plant 40 trees on your behalf. We suggest that you donate around R 10 000.00. This will allow us to plant 400 trees on your behalf. We suggest that you donate around R 20 000.00. This will allow us to plant 1000  trees on your behalf.

Step 2 - Pledge to take action

Have a look at the list below and select as many changes or steps that you can comfortably pledge to make. 
Once you have made a donation towards planting one or more trees we will send you a certificate to acknowledge and thank you for your commitment. 
As the Food and Resource Forest grows, you are welcome to come and enjoy the fruits of your actions! We will even e-mail photographic updates of your tree/s and keep you updated as the project progresses. And we would love to hear how you are implementing your own personal carbon offsetting programme!

Home

Open curtains in the morning and close at night to control temperature

Replace existing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs 

Switch off lights when vacating a room

Invest in solar-powered garden lights to illuminate your paths and driveways at night

Install motion sensitive lights 

Switch off computers, televisions, video machines and other electrical appliances at the power source when not in use

Don't over-fill electric kettles

Use a hot box or solar-heated cooker for slow cooking

Dry your laundry on a washing line in the sun instead of using a tumble drier

Shower instead of bathing

Lower the thermostat setting on your geyser and invest in a geyser blanket

Fix dripping taps

Install low flow shower heads and sink aerators
Recycle rain water and grey water (from sinks, showers and wash basins)

Recycle your refuse - glass, paper, plastic and metal

Use worms to make compost from your organic waste

Invest in a solar-powered water heating system

Invest in solar panels to generate electricity

Plant trees if you have the space, grow your own vegetables and herbs


Office

Recycle paper

Recycle printer and toner cartridges

Avoid printing whenever possible

Hold video conferences instead of commuting

Replace  your  desktop computer with a laptop

Put your computer to sleep instead of using a screensaver and switch off at power point when not in use

Set Blackle.com as your homepage

Travel

Walk, cycle or take public transport to work 

Plan your trips in advance to avoid congested routes

Minimize travel - share transport and car-pool with friends and work colleagues

Explore local destinations for holidays

Keep international trips to a minimum - choose an airline with a good carbon offsetting programme

Shopping

Save on packaging - buy in bulk and use your own re-usable shopping bags or boxes

Buy organic and locally produced produce

Procure digital music online

Buy clothes that do not require dry-cleaning or ironing

Recycle clothes - pass them on to others

E-mail us for a list to down-load and stick on your fridge!

Want to participate in the MaLplaas Carbon Offset Project (MaLCOP) ?

donation button

                                                          Contact:    l i l . m a l k o p @ g m a i l . c o m

                                                                                                                    + 2 7   0 2 8  2 8 4 9 6 1 9

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Buddha
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