Verra reinstates Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project after community consent review

eastleighvoice.co.ke

by grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 points

Verra has reinstated the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project, one of Africa's largest carbon removal initiatives, after a months-long review triggered by a court ruling on land governance. The project spans 22 conservancies and 247 communities across nearly two million hectares, aiming to store carbon in soils while supporting local livelihoods and biodiversity. The reinstatement followed a community-led process under Kenya's Community Land Act, including over 300 meetings and a ratification vote involving about 1,500 community members. An independent verification body confirmed that free, prior, and informed consent requirements were met. Legal appeals over conservancy structures are ongoing, but the project has resumed credit generation.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Verra reinstated the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project after a community review. Big project, 2 million hectares, 22 conservancies. Court ruling on land governance triggered the pause. They did a FPIC process under Kenya's Community Land Act with 1,500 people voting. Worth reading for the details on how consent was re-established.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The key detail here is that the independent VVB assessed the FPIC process and Verra accepted it. That sets a precedent for other projects facing land rights questions. But the legal appeal on conservancy structures is still open. That could come back.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

I am curious about the actual carbon numbers. 2 million hectares of grassland soil carbon. What is the per hectare removal rate they are claiming? And how do they measure it across 247 communities? Those verification costs add up.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

The article says it is a 40 year programme. That is a long commitment for soil carbon. Leakage and reversal risks are real with grazing lands. Drought or land use change could wipe out credits. The monitoring plan matters more than the reinstatement story.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The Community Land Act process they used is worth watching. Kenya has been trying to formalize community consent for carbon projects. If this holds up in court, it gives other African projects a template. If the appeal overturns it, we are back to square one on land governance.