Zambia’s Barotse Rangelands project secures spot in Africa’s carbon accelerator programme

The Barotse Rangelands for Restoration Project (BR4RP) in Western Province has been selected among only four initiatives across Africa to benefit from the Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment (CAPE).

Chosen from more than 100 applications from 28 countries, BR4RP will receive development and investment readiness support under CAPE’s inaugural cohort.

The programme, funded by FSD Africa — a UK-backed financial sector development agency — is designed to unlock large-scale investment into nature-based carbon projects across the continent.

The project seeks to cut emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, protect biodiversity, and deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

“These four projects showcase the diverse scope of CAPE, and were chosen based on their stage of development, social and environmental impact potential, alignment with investor preferences, and potential to scale. Their ability to deliver tangible benefits to communities was a particularly important criterion,” CAPE said in a statement on Wednesday.

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FSD Africa Carbon Markets Lead, Reshma Shah, said the initiative reflected Africa’s growing leadership in the global climate agenda.

“The Barotse Rangelands for Restoration Project is bold in scale, inclusive in approach, and uncompromising on integrity,” she said. “With CAPE’s support, we are setting environmental and biodiversity baselines that far exceed standard requirements, building investor confidence for impact at scale.”

Pro Green Earth chief executive officer, Renier Van Vuuren, welcomed the development, describing it as a major milestone for Zambia’s climate finance ambitions.

Through BR4RP, Pro Green Earth is partnering with the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to improve grassland quality, productivity, and biodiversity through community-led rangeland management and traditional cattle-based livelihoods.

The project is expected to generate about 30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent removals over its 40-year lifespan while supporting economic growth, enhancing ecosystem services in the Barotse floodplains, and strengthening community resilience to climate change.

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