Jeffrey Gogo Climate Story
Under REDD+, monetary compensation is paid for projects that limit greenhouse gas emissions growth in tropical forests. THE Kariba REDD+ project has achieved 5,6 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2) emission reductions since operations began in 2011, as the project implementers, Carbon Green Africa (CGA), scoffed at recent transparency and accountability accusations.
That means by managing forests better, and involving communities in so doing, the project is helping to control, at a macro level, growth of the two most dangerous gases responsible for causing climate change and global warming, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4).
However, the savings fall far below the CGA’s 6,5 MtCO2 annual reduction projections as listed on the Verified Carbon Standard website, a global benchmark in emissions trading.
Kariba REDD+ has cut deforestation in the four rural councils of Mbire, Nyaminyami, Binga and Hurungwe, where it operates, by wide margins, according to a July report compiled by the project auditors, Environmental Services Inc, a US firm.
“ . . . the project has a positive impact on livelihoods, food security, children’s education and healthcare,” said the auditors’ report, which covered the period July 2011 to January 2014.
“Farmers are trained for conservation agriculture and necessary material inputs are provided. Community gardens are established and provided improved nutrition.”
In a separate interview, Carbon Green Africa chief executive, Mr Charles Ndondo claimed deforestation across the four districts, which consist mainly of dense woodland and open canopy forest, has been cut 50 percent in three years.
Under REDD+, monetary compensation is paid for projects that limit greenhouse gas emissions growth in tropical forests.
Those carbon savings are later sold to Western countries or firms in the form of credits, also called offsets or units, keen to neutralise pollution in their home economies.
The scope of Kariba REDD+, the biggest such project in Zimbabwe spanning 750 000 hectares of land, involves forestry, agriculture and land use. CGA says it has spent $650 000 of its own money building the scheme.
SATISFIED COMMUNITY
According to the auditors, over 11 community gardens had been set up across the four rural councils by January this year with 650 bee-keeping starter kits distributed, the auditors said.
Bee-keeping is promoted as “an alternative and environmental friendly source of income.”
First trials with conservation farming started in 2012 with a limited number of farmers who reported 20-30 percent increase in output for crops such as sorghum and cow peas.
Last year, 300 farmers adopted “the farming method on their own accord upon seeing the visual difference in quality of crops grown” by those practising conservation agriculture.
CGA has repaired and maintained 1 200km of gravel roads across the four districts, which double as fire guards, said the report.
Fire incidents remain high, Environmental Services said, but through awareness and some technical support, Kariba REDD+ has managed to minimise the risk of new uncontrolled fires.
To gauge progress of project implementation, the auditors interviewed nearly 400 community members, beneficiaries and employees under the scheme.
The results showed 59 percent of the community were satisfied with the project, 3,2 percent very satisfied and 2,5 percent disappointed. The rest were indifferent.
Through questionnaires, the survey also looked for project impact on education, food security, livelihoods and healthcare.
It asked questions such as “through the project, are you, or members of your household, restricted in collecting the following forest products, for building material, firewood and fruits?”
The project’s biodiversity benefits include a reduction of the poaching pressure on wildlife through regular patrolling, in close cooperation with rural councils.
Until January 2014, over 600 snares had been removed from the bush, which means a substantial relieve of the pressure on the local wildlife, said the auditors.
As part of the project’s biodiversity monitoring, 171 trees species have been identified and many threatened wildlife species sighted.
The most common ones include elephant, hippo and southern ground horn bill. Also, about 25 Painted Dogs have been reported by council scouts.
POOR PRICES
Over 30 years, the Kariba REDD+ is expected to generate 196,5 million carbon credits from reduced emissions associated with deforestation.
Since inception, Carbon Green Africa has issued 2,8 million credits, but is still holding nearly 1,4 million offsets that remain unsold, possibly due to buyer apathy. Each credit equals a tonne of carbon dioxide.
This year, 25 000 credits have been sold at an average $2 per unit. That’s about $50 000 shared according to the proportion of shares held by the participating rural council.
Mbire holds 34 percent, Nyaminyami 29 percent, Binga 20 percent and Hurungwe 17 percent.
In 2014, the project sold over 1,4 million credits, at a price Mr Ndondo refused to reveal, only saying “it was much lower.”
We can estimate though, using last year’s international average price of $4,2 per credit for voluntary REDD+ projects, Kariba may have earned over $5 million from offset sales in 2013. But that’s just my estimate. You can draw your own conclusions.
I am aware also, REDD+ credits are losing style, and prices have crashed below one dollar this year due to an oversupply of credits.
Worldwide, 31.8 million credits remained unsold at the end of last year, according to a State of the Carbon Markets Report 2014 released by US firm, Ecosystems Marketplace earlier this year. The report forecasts the existing damper on carbon prices to remain until 2018.
NOTHING TO HIDE
Meanwhile, Mr Ndondo has hit back at accusations Carbon Green Africa was short-changing rural communities in Binga, claiming their REDD+ project was transparent and sets good precedent for any future private schemes of similar nature.
This follows recent allegations by Binga Ward 4 councillor Mr Elmon Mudenda that CGA had failed to fulfil its promises. (Read last week’s instalment for more on this.)
“Zimbabwe has vast pieces of land where REDD+ projects can be implemented besides the 4 districts we are operating,” the CGA chief executive said derisively, aware there is no other programme currently running at the same magnitude as Carbon Green’s.
“We would be happy to exchange experience with other REDD+ projects in Zimbabwe, should any be developed in the future.”
He said Kariba REDD+ adheres to the best practice standards that are set for REDD+ projects in global associations, which entailed high levels of transparency and accountability in project implementation.
“The world’s best practice in developing REDD+ projects is to certify the carbon emission reductions, the community and the biodiversity impacts by using the Verified Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards,” Ndondo said.
“This project has been validated and verified (audited) by independent auditors already four times since its start date. All audit reports are publicly available on the internet.”
In Binga, CGA has disbursed undisclosed amounts of received cash, a vehicle, computers and “the communities had one of the biggest irrigation scheme resuscitated, and sustainable farming inputs.”
God is faithful.
jeffgogo@gmail.com