Catholic Agencies Call for Action as Tanzanian Indigenous Community Duped into Signing “dubious” Carbon Credit Projects

It adds, “The study underscores the urgent need for governmental accountability and the development of international and national frameworks to regulate voluntary carbon markets to ensure they do not undermine indigenous rights.” 

According to the MISA study, most of the Maasai people interviewed for the report lack adequate knowledge of carbon markets, contract terms, and are not able to anticipate all the long-term consequences of these agreements.

Those interviewed in the study further express their fear that the contracts will make them lose control over their traditional grazing lands. 

“Carbon contracts will prevent them from sharing areas that are strategic for survival in times of droughts and also interfere with their centuries-old sustainable land management techniques, which are vital to their survival,” CIDSE says. 

The organization notes that Maasai’s traditional grazing routes are based on seasonal water availability and the migration patterns of their livestock. These practices, CIDSE says, are not only central to the Maasai cultural identity but also contribute positively to the conservation and resilience of dry lands.

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The organization expresses concern that under the new carbon offset projects, Maasai land use is being subordinated to carbon sequestration, with agreements anticipated to last for a total of 40 years. 

In the statement shared with ACI Africa, the Director of KOO, Anja Appel, says that “the decision by large companies to meet their net zero commitments or reduce their carbon emissions is producing some very questionable results.”

She adds, “As Catholic organisations, we are committed to climate justice, which means responding to ecological challenges with just and socially balanced answers.”

“For us, it is therefore imperative that climate policy is based on human rights. Especially when it comes to corporate responsibility and climate action, policymakers must now stand firm. Any backtracking would be disastrous for climate protection,” Ms. Appel further says. 

The two carbon offset projects examined in the study are in direct competition as they target the same area of Maasai land.

Their goal, the study reveals, is to change grazing practices to increase carbon storage in the soil, which in turn generates carbon credits for corporate offsetting.

Covering “one million hectares”, LMRCP is being conducted by Soils for the Future Tanzania Ltd (SftFTZ) and is funded by Volkswagen ClimatePartners. RTEP on the other hand is under The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Carbon credit projects are not only a threat to the Maasai people, Emmanuel Yap, CIDSE Food and Land Policy Officer says, and adds that the credits are also “a big threat to so many indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide as big corporate interests continue not to take their responsibilities seriously in truly reducing their own carbon emissions.”

Discussions between Volkswagen’s ClimatePartner and Maasai representatives regarding the protection of their rights and interests have yielded little progress, CIDSE says, and adds that despite strong concerns raised by the Maasai, Volkswagen has so far failed to provide substantial responses. 

“Companies must not only make sustainability commitments but also take active responsibility for addressing the challenges their projects create,” Selina Wiredu, Africa Policy Officer at Misereor says.

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Selina adds, “We demand that German corporations like Volkswagen ensure that their sustainability efforts do not come at the expense of human rights. This means ensuring FPIC, no negative impacts on food security and livelihoods, and transparently involving local communities in project planning from the outset.” 

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.