We are pleased to announce that the Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project has successfully received its final validation report from the auditors. This marks a critical milestone after over two years of dedicated work. The final validation confirms that the project complies with all requirements set forth by the Gold Standard, a globally recognised certification body for high-impact environmental projects.
Close-up of a Bulindi Chimpanzee in its natural forest habitat in Uganda. Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project, DGB.
The Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project, located in western Uganda, is an afforestation and reforestation initiative aimed at protecting the habitat of over 300 chimpanzees in the Hoima and Masindi districts. These chimpanzees are under threat due to shrinking forest cover on agricultural land. Over the next six years, the project will plant 4.5 million trees, restoring the natural ecosystem, increasing food availability for chimpanzees, and helping to reduce human-wildlife conflict. The total area reforested amounts so far to 534 hectares planted, with another 550 hectares planned for 2026, and 700 hectares for 2027.
Drone photo of forested land in Uganda. Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project, DGB.
In addition to environmental restoration, the project works closely with local communities, providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities, clean water access, education support, and training on energy-efficient practices.
Read more: Meet the team behind the Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project
In the context of a carbon credit project, final validation is a comprehensive process conducted by an independent auditor. It ensures that the project meets rigorous criteria related to environmental integrity, social impact, and long-term sustainability. Specifically, it involves the following:
- Verification of project design: The auditor reviews the project’s methodologies, objectives, and implementation to ensure alignment with the Gold Standard’s criteria. This includes assessing how the project will deliver measurable and permanent environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration or biodiversity restoration.
- Assessment of social and environmental impact: The project must demonstrate that it benefits not only the environment but also local communities. This includes evaluating contributions to local livelihoods, infrastructure, and capacity-building programmes, which, in our case, support local households through education, clean water access, and sustainable farming initiatives.
- Carbon accounting and monitoring: The auditor examines the mechanisms in place for tracking and verifying the project’s carbon sequestration potential. This ensures that the carbon units generated are real, additional, and verifiable, contributing to global environmental goals.
DGB team member working in a tree seedling nursery. Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project, DGB.
By achieving final validation from the auditors, the Bulindi Chimpanzee Habitat Restoration Project is now one step closer to being officially certified by Gold Standard to generate carbon units, which can be traded or sold to organisations and investors seeking to compensate for their carbon emissions. This milestone affirms that our project is not only making a measurable environmental difference but also providing tangible benefits to local communities in Uganda.
Read more: Nurturing harmony in Uganda—A Planet Earth III tale of the Bulindi Chimpanzee Project
As we move forward, this certification enables us to further contribute to nature restoration and community development through the sale of carbon units, reinforcing the long-term sustainability of our efforts.
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