The Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phase II (2010 – 2039) is classified as a mega-project, estimated to avoid 1.3 million tCO2 e per year under the UN’s REDD Scheme following the Avoiding Unplanned Mosaic Deforestation and Degradation (AUMDD) methodology. The Project is designed to address human-wildlife conflict, protect biodiversity and create alternative livelihoods.
Located in South-Eastern Kenya, the Project covers a land mass of 169,741 ha and forms a corridor of land between the Tsavo East and West National Parks. It is home to over 300 species of birds, larger mammals and important populations of the IUCN Red List including Grevy’s zebra, Cheetah, Lion and 500 African Elephants.
The Project aims to protect against rapid deforestation – consequential of subsistence farming activities and illegal charcoal trading– by creating alternative livelihoods for surrounding communities, monitoring project land with ranger patrols and developing a sustainable charcoal production program.
The project proponent for Kasigua is Wildlife Works and is registered according to Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, the Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standard and is REDD verified carbon units (VCU) accredited.
The Project employs approximately 330 full time employees of whom 29% are female and 99% are Kenyan, while 80% of Wildlife Works’ employees at the Project1 are recruited directly from the local community. Alternative livelihoods include employment in clothing factories, project monitoring and Kasigau Corridor protection, engagement in the commercialisation of the eco-charcoal venture. Concurrently, Community Development Projects funded by the Carbon Revenue included 4004 scholarships for students in secondary education and developments within the Women’s Centre.
The Kasigau Corridor REDD Project Phase II (2010 – 2039) is classified as a mega-project, estimated to avoid 1.3 million tCO2 e per year under the UN’s REDD Scheme following the Avoiding Unplanned Mosaic Deforestation and Degradation (AUMDD) methodology. Within 2019, annual Net Emissions Reductions sat at 1.37 million tonnes of CO2 , surpassing initial projections.