This Project Idea Note details the intentions of DGB and our partners, AIAT of Kenya, to plant 3 million trees being planted (consisting of fruit trees, indigenous and fast-growing trees) over a period of three years as part of DGB’s drive to rapidly accelerate reforestation and generate Verified Carbon Units (VCUs).
Reforestation projects involve replanting trees and vegetation in previously-forested areas that have been affected by natural or unnatural disturbances. In this instance, unnatural disturbance, driven by human activities such as logging, agricultural clearance, development, construction, and firewood collection, have reduced the size and integrity of the previously-existing forests. Although the current project will plant 3 million trees over approximately 2500 hectares, there are 16,000 hectares available (for the planting of approximately 20 million trees), should funding for expansion or scaling up to be feasible.
Reforestation projects involve replanting trees and vegetation in previously-forested areas that have been affected by natural or unnatural disturbances. In this instance, unnatural disturbance, driven by human activities such as logging, agricultural clearance, development, construction, and firewood collection, have reduced the size and integrity of the previously-existing forest.
Together, we propose to grow and facilitate the planting of 3 million trees, planting them at a rate of at least one million per year over three years of shade trees and fruit trees in small-holder farms and a diversity of indigenous species where reforestation is needed in the country’s ‘water towers’ - catchment areas such as Mt Kenya and the Aberdares where reforestation is important for water security as well as increasing levels of biodiversity.
Trees Being Planted
Ton CO2 To Be Captured
Kenya is home to a great variety of life, with over 35,000 species of flora and fauna. The country’s diverse ecosystems range from mountains, tropical, drylands, forest, and arid lands. Furthermore, around two and a half percent of the country’s total area is covered by the inland lake and wetland habitats. Kenyan forests, in particular, are especially rich in plant and animal life and most of the country’s endemic species live in forest habitats.
In Kenya’s central region, the site of this project, the majority of people in rural areas rely on agriculture to earn income. Although some of their revenue may come through small-scale ‘cottage industries’, the majority are smallholders with an average monthly income of between 45 and 180 USD. Communities who are largely reliant on the land for their income are now seeing reducing yields, an increasingly unstable climate and reductions in food and water security. Through protecting the immediate environment, a better quality of life will be secured, and through investment and provision of jobs, poverty will be somewhat alleviated.
DGB derives its main income from the sales of VCUs. The lifetime of the project is 30 years. Carbon credits will be generated from year four, from which time the project will become financially self-sustaining. During the period before this, the company is relying on various financing sources including venture capital and debt, to finance its operations. DGB has a Corporate Finance and Strategy team dedicated to raising funds. Revenues from carbon removals will play an important part in DGB's ability to meet its immediate and future fundraising needs. The issuance of VCUs in year four of the project, will be a critical proof point for the next fundraising round to unlock investment from an even larger range of investors and secure the remaining amount needed to rapidly reforest the earth through projects such as this.
We are a project developer of high quality large-scale carbon and biodiversity projects accredited by third-parties.
We’re striving to safeguard the natural world, helping people live more sustainably and take action against deforestation and desertification.