Is Africa Facing a New Wave of 'Carbon Grabs'?

African Development Bank chief Akinwumi Adesina says Africa’s forests are being exploited in a new “carbon grab,” with companies paying rock-bottom prices—just $3 per tonne—for carbon credits that fetch up to €200 in Europe. Despite absorbing vast amounts of CO₂, countries like Liberia report seeing virtually none of the returns, raising concerns over the fairness and transparency of global carbon markets.

If carbon isn’t priced fairly, how can reforestation thrive—and what level of transparency will finally root out this imbalance?

👉👉 Read more in Financial Times

Conservation X Labs Fuels Wildfire Innovations with $50K Grants

In a bold move to combat the escalating wildfire crisis in Western North America, Conservation X Labs (CXL) has awarded $50,000 grants to 12 pioneering teams through its Fire Grand Challenge. These innovators are set to field-test avant-garde solutions—ranging from deploying drones for prescribed burns to employing fungi for biomass decomposition—over the next nine months across fire-prone regions in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

But here's the burning question: Can these tech-savvy approaches truly outpace the ferocity of modern wildfires, or are we just fanning the flames of optimism?

👉👉 Read more in Mongabay

Santander and BNDES Bet Big on Mombak's Amazon Reforestation Gambit

In a move that screams "green is the new black," reforestation upstart Mombak just bagged a cool 100 million reais ($17.8 million) from Santander Brasil and the Brazilian development bank BNDES. citeturn0news17 Their mission? Snatch up degraded Amazon lands and flip them into lush forests faster than you can say "carbon credits." With corporate giants like Microsoft, Google, and McLaren already on their client list, Mombak's CEO, Peter Fernandez, is eyeing to triple or even quadruple their $150 million in carbon removal deals this year. citeturn0news17 But here's the kicker: while Mombak's planting trees, others are busy cutting them down. Almost 2,000 container ships have been caught shipping illegal Amazon timber to the U.S. and Europe.

So, the burning question: can Mombak's green ambitions outpace the chainsaws, or are we just playing a high-stakes game of environmental whack-a-mole?

👉👉 Read more in Reuters

Ethiopia's Green Legacy Initiative Nets $70M in Carbon Trading

Ethiopia's ambitious Green Legacy Initiative has not only greened the landscape but also the nation's wallet, securing $70 million through carbon trading agreements with international partners, including the World Bank. Since its 2019 launch, the initiative has boosted forest cover to 23.6%, with over 40 billion seedlings planted. Plans are underway to plant an additional 7.5 billion seedlings during the upcoming rainy season. citeturn0search1 This reforestation effort positions Ethiopia as a key player in the global carbon market.

Can this green momentum be sustained to further bolster Ethiopia's economic and environmental future?

👉👉 Read more in Southern Africa Times

Funding Freeze Puts Global Reforestation Efforts on the Chopping Block

In a plot twist no one asked for, the U.S. has hit the pause button on foreign aid, leaving global reforestation projects gasping for financial air. This sudden cash drought jeopardizes years of tree-hugging progress, with initiatives from the Amazon to Zambia scrambling to keep their saplings alive. Organizations like the Rainforest Alliance are now passing the hat, hoping to fill a $20 million hole left by Uncle Sam’s retreat. Meanwhile, conservationists are left wondering: can these green dreams survive without greenbacks, or will they wither on the vine?

Is this the end of the road for US-backed reforestation efforts, or just a detour?

👉👉 Read more in Mongabay

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