Reforestation of Degraded Lands in Sierra Leone

Reviving Grasslands Through Sustainable Forestry and Community Partnerships in West Africa

Sustainable Forestry for Climate and Rural Development This large-scale reforestation project brings degraded grasslands in Sierra Leone back to life through sustainable plantation forestry. Located in the Tonkolili and Port Loko Districts, the project aims […]

Project type: Afforestation and Reforestation (ARR)
Project ID: VCS2401
Status: Project Registered
Crediting period: 16/05/2016 – 15/05/2046

Location

Tonkolili and Port Loko Districts, Sierra Leone

Annual reductions

63,583 tCO₂e annually; 1,907,488 tCO2e during the entire project lifetime.

Community impact

Local employment, CSR infrastructure, education and health support, SME stimulation, benefit-sharing with 80+ communities

Verified carbon projects sit alongside reduction. They do not make a venue or event carbon neutral or net zero.

What the project does.

This large-scale reforestation project brings degraded grasslands in Sierra Leone back to life through sustainable plantation forestry. Located in the Tonkolili and Port Loko Districts, the project aims to establish up to 12,000 hectares of FSC-certified plantations on land previously underutilised for farming or grazing. More than 4,000 hectares have already been planted using fast-growing species like Eucalyptus pellita, Tectona grandis, and Acacia mangium, which are well-adapted to local conditions.

By restoring forest cover, the project captures carbon, improves soil quality, and contributes to regional biodiversity recovery. It operates under robust sustainability criteria and actively engages over 80 local communities through land lease agreements, benefit-sharing mechanisms, and local employment. The project represents a scalable model for combining carbon removals with long-term rural development.

Tonkolili and Port Loko Districts, Sierra Leone

63,583 tCO₂e annually; 1,907,488 tCO2e during the entire project lifetime.

Photography