The Agroforestry Project of Cameroon Validated Under VCS: A New Era for Climate and Community Impact

Photo Credits: Unsplash https://unsplash.com/@rpbiswal

[Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; 22 May 2025]

The Agroforestry Project of Cameroon has officially been validated and registered under Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) (Verra Registry ID# 4883). This milestone solidifies its role as one of Central Africa’s most promising nature-based solutions, aimed at restoring degraded land while empowering communities and supporting biodiversity.

Project Overview

Led by Climate Investment Partners in collaboration with the Rural Development Centre Cameroon (RUDEC), the Project is designed to restore up to 10,000 hectares of degraded landscapes in Cameroon through climate-resilient agroforestry practices. Starting in the Littoral and Centre Regions, the initiative combines environmental regeneration with social development.

Over time, the Project will plant an estimated 5 to 6 million trees, sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon, and generate more than 108,000 average annual carbon credits. The Project is expected to directly benefit over 1,000 community members through job creation, training, and long-term income opportunities.

“At a time when farmers are battling the ravaging effects of climate change, this approval is a significant step towards restoring degraded lands and improving green spaces in Cameroon,” said Botame Peter, Project Coordinator at RUDEC.

Climate and Community Benefits

During its initial 40-year crediting period, at full scale, the Project is expected to remove at least 4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from the atmosphere.

This Project contributes to six critical UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Goal 5 – Gender Equality: Men and women are hired with equal pay and opportunities.
• Goal 6 – Clean Water: Tree planting improves water infiltration and reduces runoff.
• Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: Local jobs are created through nurseries, tree planting, and land management.
• Goal 13 – Climate Action: Verified carbon credits reflect tangible CO₂ sequestration.
• Goal 15 – Life on Land: Reforestation strengthens wildlife corridors and habitat for biodiversity.
• Goal 17 – Partnerships: Built on international-local cooperation and free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) with communities.

In addition to these benefits, the Project provides training, technical assistance, and new revenue streams through agroforestry, offering an alternative to monoculture and unsustainable land use practices.

Biodiversity Impact

Although the Project takes place on degraded land, the surrounding region is home to critically endangered species such as the Western gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). By restoring canopy cover and ecological corridors, the Project enhances habitat connectivity and reduces pressure on nearby natural forest remnants.

Scaling Landscape Restoration

The Agroforestry Project of Cameroon operates as a grouped VCS project, allowing new instances to be added over time as community interest grows. With its expansive geographic reach across the Littoral and Centre Regions, and its ability to scale sustainably, the Project offers a replicable blueprint for climate-smart development across tropical landscapes.

Next Steps and Opportunities

Now fully validated, the Project is positioned to scale and to eventually issue Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) under the VCS Program. It welcomes collaboration with impact-driven investors, buyers of high-integrity carbon credits, and partners interested in sustainable restoration.

To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, visit
👉 www.climateinvestmentpartners.com

Contact us at info@climateinvestmentpartners.com