Miombo Restoration Alliance Initiates Major Carbon Removal Projects in Four African Nations

The Miombo Restoration Alliance has commenced its inaugural carbon removal projects across Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi. These initiatives encompass an estimated direct expenditure and investment exceeding USD 1 billion over their lifetimes, with revenue-sharing agreements set to benefit approximately 100,000 community members, participating farmers, and national governments. Collectively, the projects aim to restore 675,000 hectares of Miombo woodlands and remove over 50 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Established during New York Climate Week in 2024, the Alliance is a public-private partnership dedicated to restoring Africa's Miombo woodlands. It focuses on producing high-integrity carbon removal credits through native species restoration and agroforestry activities, developed under a consistent ecological and governance framework.

The four projects include:

1. Malawi: Miombo Malawi Restoration Project Partnering with Mamaland, a Mota-Engil Company, this project integrates conservation and restoration activities over more than 550,000 hectares. It features one of Africa's largest native species nurseries, with an annual capacity of 11 million seedlings, and includes a 10,000-hectare "energetic forest" for sustainable timber production. The project also implements direct revenue-sharing with communities and the government, alongside a substantial employment program.

2. Zambia: Miombo Zambia Agroforestry Project In collaboration with ETG Climate Solutions, this initiative aims to rehabilitate degraded lands by introducing agroforestry systems to over 45,000 farmers in Zambia's Western Province. Participants will benefit from carbon credit revenues and agroforestry outputs, with the project supporting the development of a local cashew market, including local processing facilities.

3. Mozambique: Miombo Mozambique Restoration Project Working with the Gorongosa Restoration Project, a public-private partnership founded in 2008 between the Government of Mozambique and the Greg Carr Foundation, this project seeks to expand and restore up to 25,000 hectares of degraded Miombo woodland and Afromontane rainforest in the buffer zone of Gorongosa National Park.

4. Tanzania: Miombo Lake Victoria Agroforestry Project In partnership with Trees for the Future (TREES) and Component Earth, this project advances the Alliance's East African strategy by combining ecological regeneration with long-term livelihood development. Since 2007, TREES has worked with smallholder farmers along Lake Victoria's Tanzanian shores to transition from monoculture farming to diversified agroforestry methods, enhancing income, food security, and soil fertility.

John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group, stated: > "We are thrilled to see the Miombo Restoration Alliance driving large-scale, native-species restoration. This African-led initiative is on track to become one of the planet's largest restoration projects, benefiting millions of people and conserving a vast, irreplaceable ecosystem."

Hannah Hauman, Head of Carbon at Trafigura, commented: > "We are delighted to announce our first projects under the Miombo Restoration Alliance, proving the framework approach of mobilising private capital at scale for restoration under Article 6."

Jonathan Goldberg, Founder & CEO of Carbon Direct, added: > "Carbon Direct is excited to collaborate with Trafigura as they work to bring reforestation and agroforestry carbon removal projects to market."

The Alliance has surpassed its initial targets, with partners already deploying capital. In 2025, it strengthened its network by adding Carbon Direct as a scientific and project design advisor and engaged Terraspect to support traceable local disbursements.