Amazon is funding a massive ecological restoration project in South Africa's Eastern Cape that will plant 180 million spekboom shrubs across more than 50,000 hectares of degraded land. The project, located near Jansenville, is expected to create 11,000 jobs by 2030 and generate 1.95 million tonnes of carbon removal credits over a decade. Amazon will purchase those credits, providing long-term revenue that allowed the World Bank to issue a Spekboom Outcome Bond to back the work. Spekboom is a drought-resistant succulent native to the region that captures carbon at rates comparable to young tropical forests. The first phase has already planted 30 million cuttings across 10,000 hectares. The project holds a pre-issuance AA.pre rating from BeZero Carbon and carries ABACUS and CCB certifications. Amazon says the investment will inject over USD 500 million into local communities through wages, procurement, and landowner payments. The project is part of Amazon's Climate Pledge to reach net-zero by 2040.
