VCS612 REDD+ Kenya

VCS612 | REDD+, Kenya is a forest (nature-based) Verified Carbon Standard project protecting biodiversity and supporting local communities.

Project Description: VCS612 | REDD+, Kenya

This project includes the ranches of 13 Indigenous Community Ownership Groups.

It forms a corridor of 169,741 ha of tropical dryland primary forest between the Tsavo East and West National Parks.

This forest contains trees estimated at over 300 years old and it is habitat for hundreds of species.

It is home to over 300 bird species, 20+ bat species and more than 50 large mammal species (e.g. zebra, cheetah, lion, elephants).

Population increases are driving mosaic deforestation from unplanned slash and burn subsistence agriculture and the illegal charcoal trade.

The fragile ecosystem and lack of water makes cattle grazing, forestry and most agriculture unsustainable.

The project prevents the release of 1.29 million tonnes annually from the landscape’s carbon stores.

Sustainability Beyond Carbon

There is more to offsets than just carbon.

Each VCS carbon credit is a tonne of verified climate benefit, no matter the type of project.

This carbon offset project provides multiple sustainability co-benefits beyond just carbon and helps link your climate response to improved sustainability.

Organic clothing factory trains and employs young women.

They sew, dye and screen-print organic cotton clothing for export to USA and Europe.

Organic nurseries sell citrus trees and jojoba and these sales fund the free supply of seedlings to local farmers.

These free agroforestry and native hardwood seedlings help meet their medicinal, nutritional and fuelwood needs.

Research is funded into growing jojoba with companion herbs as their essential oils provide a high value cash crop.

Community based eco-charcoal production offers an alternative to charcoal sourced from the primary forest.

The project’s established several permanent ranger stations, each with 8-12 rangers recruited and trained from local communities.

Dedicated 4 ranger patrol with tracking skills and biodiversity knowledge tracks and monitors High Conservation Value species.

Funding, training and support is provided for Community Wildlife Scouts.

The Community Wildlife Scouts monitor and deter illegal activity including charcoal burning, bushmeat hunting and commercial poaching.

Local groups are supported by the project to provide environmental advice and support.

On example of this is a reforestation project planting 20,000 indigenous hardwood trees replacing those lost to charcoal or construction.

The project funds school construction and maintenance works and has set up an expanded bursary scheme for education.

It also employs and trains community members in organic agroforestry.

Ecotourism developed, employing safari guides and other service jobs.

Want to know more about VCS612 | REDD+, Kenya?

The project’s design and monitoring, validation and verification reports are publicly available here: https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/612