Verra Reinstates Northern Kenya Grasslands Carbon Project Following Community Ratification Process

Verra has reinstated the Northern Kenya Grassland Carbon Project (Verra Project 1468) after the Chari Dedha Community affirmed its participation in the project through a process conducted in accordance with Kenya’s Community Land Act.

Verra had placed the project under a quality control review (QCR) following a January 2025 court ruling that found the Biliqo Bulesa Conservancy, which operates the project in an area managed by the Chari Dedha Community, along with another conservancy outside the project area, had been established without the required legal and community processes on unregistered community land. This decision resulted in the project ceasing to be in conformance with ownership requirements under Verra’s rules, triggering the QCR.

The court ruling has since been appealed by the project proponent, the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), together with the affected community conservancies. While the appeal is still ongoing, NRT and the conservancies successfully obtained an injunction putting aside the execution of the ruling, which allows the conservancies to continue their operations.

To demonstrate the project’s conformance with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards Program, NRT was required to undertake an independently assessed process to confirm community governance arrangements and demonstrate free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in accordance with the applicable legal and program requirements.

NRT worked with the local Chari Dedha Community, which undertook a legally grounded governance and FPIC process under Kenya’s Community Land Act. The process included community registration, the establishment of elected governance structures, extensive community consultations, and a ratification vote involving approximately 1,500 community members that affirmed the community’s participation in and support for the project through transparent, community-led elected governance structures and decision-making.

The project’s validation/verification body (VVB) independently assessed the process, including through consultations with community members, civil society organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders not affiliated with the project. The VVB concluded that the community governance arrangements and FPIC process met the applicable requirements of Verra’s programs.

Verra reviewed and accepted the VVB’s assessment and reinstated the project. Future verifications will also continue to assess the project’s compliance with the outcome of any ongoing legal proceedings.