Klima Foundation, dedicated to advancing innovation in the carbon market, has allocated $ 227,000 to purchase forward carbon credits from the Kwamisa Reserves Community Forest Project in Ghana. This initiative exemplifies our commitment to directly funding project developers to drive climate action.
Developed in partnership with AITHER and managed by the Private Afforestation Developers Organisation (PADO), the project supports carbon sequestration and enhances economic opportunities and ecological resilience for local communities. As a not-for-profit organization, Klima Foundation ensures that all proceeds are reinvested into strengthening the carbon market ecosystem—amplifying the impact of every transaction on global climate goals.
Project Overview
Ghana has one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa, losing up to 2% of its high forest zone (HFZ) annually. According to Ghana’s Forest Investment Program report, Over the past century, more than 85% of the country’s forest cover has disappeared. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), agricultural expansion, timber harvesting, urban sprawl, infrastructure development, mining, and mineral exploitation are key drivers of deforestation and degradation.
The Kwamisa Community Forest Project is reversing this trend. Through large-scale reforestation efforts, the project is restoring degraded forest reserves by planting teak trees, revitalizing ecosystems, and enhancing biodiversity. Beyond environmental restoration, it creates jobs, strengthens food security, and fosters sustainable land use practices. By integrating local communities into its mission, the project ensures long-term carbon sequestration while building a more resilient future for Ghana’s forests and the people who depend on them.
Key Impacts:
Carbon Sequestration: Removes over 14,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation.
Biodiversity Restoration: Revives degraded ecosystems, enhancing habitat quality for local flora and fauna.
Economic Benefits: Generates jobs, improves livelihoods, and ensures food security for communities living near forest reserves.
The project spans 3,010 hectares of reforested land within the Kwamisa Forest Reserve in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, Offinso Forest District. Previously, the area was severely degraded due to a catastrophic fire in 1983, leaving the land barren and ecologically vulnerable. Through reforestation, this initiative is restoring the landscape, creating a thriving forest ecosystem while driving sustainable development in the region.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project has had a profound social impact. According to a representative from AITHER, “The project has provided employment and income to approximately 3,200 community members living near the forest. Around 500 short-term jobs have been created in the surrounding plantation areas. We’ve witnessed tangible improvements in livelihoods—new homes, motorbikes, and vehicles are now more common, and more children are enrolling in school.”
Klima Foundation Commitment and Risk Mitigation
Klima Foundation funding is underpinned by a Voluntary or Verified Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (VERPA), ensuring transparency and the reliable delivery of high-quality carbon credits. To further mitigate risks, the project adheres to rigorous monitoring and evaluation protocols aligned with international standards such as AR-ACM0003 for afforestation and reforestation projects.
Foundation’s backing of this initiative reflects its strategic focus on projects that deliver measurable climate impact and robust co-benefits. By committing to forward carbon credit purchases, Klima Foundation is catalyzing the success of this reforestation effort while creating a transparent pathway for integrating these credits into the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM).
Klima Foundation’s Role
This initiative marks a significant milestone for Klima Foundation, strengthening its role in the carbon market and showcasing its ability to direct assets under management (AUM) toward high-impact climate initiatives. By strategically financing projects like the Kwamisa/Other Reserves Community Forest Project in Ghana, the Foundation reinforces its commitment to scaling effective climate action.
Through innovative technology, Klima Foundation continues to set the standard for how decentralized finance (DeFi) and community-driven impact can support meaningful climate solutions at scale. Its approach advances transparency, traceability, and accessibility in carbon markets, fostering a more open and efficient ecosystem.
As the adoption of decentralized, innovative solutions grows, these projects are increasingly integrated into the broader carbon market infrastructure, demonstrating how such innovations can enhance market conditions for a diverse range of stakeholders.
Empowering Local Communities
Beyond its environmental benefits, the Kwamisa Community Forest Project is a lifeline for local communities. By creating employment opportunities in planting, maintenance, and monitoring, the initiative directly addresses poverty and food insecurity.
Moreover, the restored forest supports agroforestry practices, enabling sustainable livelihoods for forest-adjacent populations.
These efforts align with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
SDG 1: Eradicating poverty by providing stable income sources.
SDG 8: Promoting decent work and economic growth through forestry jobs.
SDG 13: Climate action through measurable carbon sequestration.
SDG 15: Sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.
The Role of Blockchain in Climate Action
Klima Foundation's approach integrates innovative technologies to enhance transparency, traceability, and efficiency in carbon markets. Through partnerships with platforms like Carbonmark, Klima Foundation ensures these forward credits are accessible and verifiable, driving trust and participation in the Voluntary Carbon Market.
A Step Toward a Sustainable Future
The Kwamisa Community Forest Project embodies the synergy between environmental restoration, community development, and cutting-edge technology. Klima Foundation’s support exemplifies how decentralized organizations can drive impactful climate solutions, fostering a more sustainable and equitable future.
With this partnership, Klima Foundation reaffirms its mission to harness the power of blockchain for the planet, championing projects that combine ecological integrity with social empowerment. Together, Klima Foundation and the Kwamisa Community Forest Project are setting a new standard for what is possible in the fight against climate change.