The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project

<p>With discussion on how companies can build a market-driven solution to finance forest and wildlife conservation, benefit local communities and meet SDGs, this webinar was broadcast live from the Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project in Kenya.</p> <p>The project protects over 200,000 hectares of dryland forest, an important ecosystem with rich biodiversity. Located between the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, the region serves as a vital corridor for more than 300 species of wildlife, including 2,000 wild elephants. </p> <p>The emerging marketplace for REDD+ carbon offsets provides funds for the project to support social programmes that impact around 120,000 local people. Long-term jobs for local communities have replaced unsustainable and destructive sources of income such as poaching, subsistence agriculture and illegal tree harvesting. </p> <p>In 2011, the project was successfully validated and verified under the Verified Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard. It was then the world's first REDD+ project to receive issuance of carbon credits and also the first Verified Carbon Standard REDD+ mega-project, in that it will result in the avoidance of over 1.5m tonnes of emissions per year for 30 years.  </p> <p>Joining live from the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ project were:</p> <ul><li>Lenjo Mwandoe, community relations manager</li> <li>George Thumbi, agribusiness and forestry manager</li> <li>Seraphine Charo, carbon committee representative</li> <li>Mercy Ngaruiya, founder of an environmental women’s group</li> <li>Eric Sagwe, head ranger</li> </ul> <p>Host and moderator: Ian Welsh, Innovation Forum</p> <p> </p>