Projects

Sierra Leone

Overview

Our first project is located in the Sherbro River Estuary of Sierra Leone. The project area covers approximately 92,000 hectares of coastal habitat and will include both mangrove conservation and restoration.

The project is founded on a pre-existing, over 12-year, trusted relationship with local communities and includes partnership with 11 chiefdoms in the area, The Government of Sierra Leone (through the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Environment), and numerous local and international partners including The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, GreenCollar, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, and more.

The project has been registered with Verra as a pipeline project under development in connection with the Verified Carbon Standard.

Impact Highlights

CO2 Avoidance and Removals. Through a combination of mangrove conservation and restoration, the project has the potential to reduce more than 9 million tons of CO2e over the next 30 years.

Conservation and Restoration. The project area has the potential to encompass up to approximately 92,000 hectares of coastal ecosystem for conservation and restoration activities, including highly vulnerable mangrove habitat.

Financial Inclusion. Proceeds from the sale of carbon credits will be shared equitably and transparently with underserved communities within the project area, resulting in increased household income, funding for community projects and infrastructure, and greater economic stability.

Stable Employment. The project will create long-term opportunities for employment within communities, with a target of 50% of new employment roles to be filled by women.

Protection of Endangered Species. The project will assess, monitor, and protect the populations of threatened species that are dependent on coastal ecosystems in the project area, including mandatory biodiversity reporting through Verra’s Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) standard.

Key Points

Sherbro River Estuary, Sierra Leone

Project Location

Project Area

Approx. 92,000 hectares

The project falls within Sectoral Scope 14, Agriculture, Forestry, Land Use Combined Categories:

REDD+ and Conservation of Intact Wetlands, with the type of activity being Avoiding Unplanned Wetland Deforestation
Afforestation, Reforestation and/or Revegetation and Restoration of Wetland Ecosystems

Project Type

This grouped project is expected to fall within the scope of Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard Program (VCS) outlined in section 2.1 of the VCS Standard v.4.4

The project is seeking registration with Verra’s Climate, Community, and Biodiversity program

Certification Standards

Pre-feasibility assessment completed

Full feasibility study in progress

Project Design Document drafted

Listed as a pipeline project with the Verra Verified Carbon Standard

Community mangrove conservation awareness and education programs ongoing

Integrated geospatial analysis and validation fieldwork ongoing

Improved cookstoves, integrated woodlot, and other income diversification project activities scaling

Pilot programs for improved fish smoking ovens (IFSOs) and other sustainable livelihood activities ongoing

First credits expected to be issued in late 2025

Milestones