Fortune: “The corporate world’s race to net-zero hinges on tiny villages in the DR Congo”

This Fortune article by Leticia Labre provides an up-close look at Wildlife Works’ Mai Ndombe REDD+ project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how it contributes to the Paris Agreement’s climate change reduction goals while simultaneously benefitting local communities and biodiversity. By conserving a large area of the Congo Forest – the world’s second largest tropical forest and a critical carbon sink – the Mai Ndombe project prevents emissions from deforestation, protects old-growth trees which absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, provides habitat for endangered species, and generates revenue for local communities, which is being used to construct schools and clinics.

The article also provides detailed background information about carbon credits, REDD+ projects, and the voluntary carbon market. Verra is cited as a major standard-setter for REDD+ projects and quotes Robin Rix on the importance of REDD+ for withstanding the global pressures driving deforestation.