Green Earth to Showcase Zambia’s Barotsi Rangeland for Restoration Project at AGES 2026: A model for regenerative development and carbon finance

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – November 26, 2025 – In a detailed discussion with Elodie Ashdown, Investment Project Lead at VUKA Group, Renier van Vuuren, Director at Green Earth, illuminated the project’s innovative model for restoring degraded rangelands, fostering sustainable livelihoods, and generating high-integrity carbon credits in Zambia’s Western Province. Green Earth’s participation at AGES 2026 underscores the Summit’s commitment to showcasing impactful African ventures that offer significant returns alongside profound environmental and social benefits. 

“Our project uniquely integrates livestock production and rangeland management with carbon credit generation, directly addressing both environmental degradation and poverty in a highly sensitive ecosystem,” van Vuuren stated. He emphasised the project’s holistic approach to creating systemic change and long-term resilience in one of Africa’s most vulnerable regions. 

 

Confronting Degradation and Poverty in Zambia’s Floodplains 

The Barotsi Floodplains, a vast and ecologically critical environment within the Zambezi River catchment, face severe degradation due to unsustainable land practices, including poor fire management and the conversion of rangelands to unproductive agriculture. This environmental decline has direct and severe socio-economic consequences. 

“We operate in an extremely sensitive environment—the catchment for the Zambezi River, which feeds into Lake Kariba, generating the majority of our electricity,” van Vuuren explained. He highlighted the stark reality of the region, noting, “This degradation is deeply linked to poverty, with 80% of the local population living below the poverty line.” Over the past 15 years, the region has witnessed a drastic decline in livestock numbers from approximately 700,000 to 580,000, threatening the primary livelihood for the majority of inhabitants. The “Barotsi Rangeland For Restoration Project” emerges as a vital intervention, designed to reverse this trend through an integrated approach to sustainable livestock production and rangeland management. “Without such a project,” van Vuuren cautioned, “the amount of degradation in the coming decades would be enormous.” 

A Foundation of expertise and strategic partnerships  

Green Earth, the developer behind this project, operates as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by Impulse Africa and Leopard Investments. These organisations collectively bring over 40 years of experience in developing and operating within this specific African landscape. Renier van Vuuren, a co-founder of Impulse Africa, personally brings over 13 years of experience in livestock production and engaging with smallholder farmers across Zambia, Malawi, and the DRC. The leadership team also includes Lucy Peterser, Chief Technical Officer, with over a decade of experience in carbon finance and HOS solutions in Zambia, and Christabel Milanjani, who offers over 40 years of experience in environmental health and government liaison. 

Crucially, the project originated from a direct request by the Borotsi Royal Establishment, the traditional land tenure holder for the Western Province, underscoring strong local buy-in. This foundational support, combined with formal approvals from key government ministries including the Ministry of Green, Ministry of Livestock, National Parks and Wildlife, and the Forestry Department, ensures robust local ownership and institutional backing. 

The Barotsi Rangeland For Restoration Project employs a science-backed methodology to transform degraded land. By strategically managing cattle grazing, the project aims to improve rangeland health, enhance soil carbon sequestration, and generate high-integrity carbon credits. This innovative use of livestock as an ecological tool is a key differentiator. “In the absence of wildlife, we are leveraging livestock grazing to improve the rangelands and generate carbon and soil credits,” van Vuuren clarified. The project is pursuing VM42 registration with Verra and Social Carbon certification, underscoring its commitment to international standards and verifiable co-benefits. The projected carbon removals are substantial, estimated at 34 million tonnes over 40 years, achieved through improved fire management, manure management, and optimised herd structure. 

Green Earth’s model has evolved from a successful large-scale sustainable livestock project that previously integrated approximately 1,700 farmers into the formal value chain, generating over €2.54 million in income. This established approach demonstrates their capacity for effective implementation. 

 

Delivering Triple-Bottom-Line Impact: Environmental, Social, and Economic 

The Barotsi Rangeland For Restoration Project is designed to deliver significant, measurable benefits across three critical dimensions: 

 

• Environmental Impact: The core climate benefit is large-scale carbon removals protecting the critical Zambezi River catchment. This leads to improved pasture quality and diversity, enhanced soil health and conservation, and increased biodiversity in a sensitive ecosystem.
   

• Social Impact: The project is projected to create an additional income of approximately $3.3 million per year for livestock farmers. It provides access to vital infrastructure, including water, and creates new market opportunities. Green Earth’s benefit-sharing model reinvests 50% of gross income directly into livelihood opportunities for the livestock industry, and also shares income with the Borotsi Royal Establishment and the Zambian government. This inclusive approach empowers local communities, fostering long-term resilience and a sense of stewardship.
   

• Economic Impact: The project is inherently profitable, designed with a robust business case that makes it resilient to regulatory changes. Van Vuuren affirmed, “We made sure that it’s profitable irrespective of regulatory changes,” positioning it for long-term economic sustainability. The project structure, involving entities like the Biloxi Agricultural Development Company, serves as a community benefit vehicle, playing a significant role in activity design and the FPIC process. 

Scalability and robust regulatory framework 

The project is already operating on a significant scale, covering 1.2 million hectares with a potential for 34 million Verified Carbon Units (VCUs). Green Earth is currently raising capital for the first 200,000 hectares of this vast area. “We have a tremendous opportunity to scale to 40 million [hectares],” van Vuuren enthused, underscoring the project’s ambitious growth potential. 

Van Vuuren also highlighted the highly supportive regulatory environment in Zambia: “Our national context boasts a very robust legal framework, with our Carbon Common Change Act coming into effect very soon, alongside dedicated regulations for carbon markets. Zambia is notably ‘Article 6 ready,’ with agreements already in place with Switzerland, Singapore, and Sweden.” This robust framework significantly de-risks the project’s long-term viability and the integrity of its carbon credits. The project has also received approval and support from the Borotsi Royal Establishment, which has dedicated the carbon rights for the project area. 

 

Progress and Investor Engagement 

The Barotsi Rangeland For Restoration Project commenced in April 2024 and is currently in its feasibility phase. Green Earth is actively engaged in the process of submitting its Project Design Document (PDD) and Monitoring and Accounting Document (MAD) for Verra validation in April 2025, anticipating the first issuance of credits in 2028. 

Green Earth is actively seeking investment, having submitted loan applications to prominent development banks, including EFAD and the Dutch Climate Fund. They are also in discussions with a philanthropic fund that has expressed keen interest and are exploring partnerships with leading conservation organisations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Further advanced discussions are underway with potential buyers in the car and motor industries, amongst others, for downstream credit purchases. 

The Barotsi Rangeland For Restoration Project offers a unique and de-risked opportunity for investors to contribute to a transformative initiative at the nexus of climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development in Africa. With robust institutional backing, a clear regulatory framework, and a proven model for generating both financial returns and profound social and environmental impact, Green Earth is poised to set a new standard for regenerative development in Zambia and beyond.