African Republic Parks Earns $7 Million

 

African Parks Earns Over $7 Million from: Boosting Conservation in Benin and Central African Republic

How Carbon Credit Sales Are Transforming Wildlife Protection and Community Development in Africa’s National Parks

Introduction

In a groundbreaking achievement for conservation, African Parks, a South African non-profit, has earned over $7 million through carbon credit sales from projects in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Benin. This milestone, reported on July 3, 2025, by Mongabay, highlights how innovative financing can protect vital ecosystems while supporting local communities. With $7.35 million generated from Chinko National Park in CAR and an additional, unspecified sum from Pendjari and W National Parks in Benin, African Parks is showing the world how to align environmental protection with economic benefits.

This post explores how these carbon credit projects work, their impact on conservation and communities, and what this means for the future of environmental stewardship. Whether you’re a student curious about climate solutions or a professional interested in sustainable finance, this story offers insights into a powerful tool for change. Plus, we’ll look at how India could adopt similar strategies to protect its own natural treasures.

Insert an infographic here showing the locations of Chinko, Pendjari, and W National Parks on a map of Africa, highlighting their role in carbon storage and biodiversity.

Understanding: A Simple Explanation

 are a way to fight climate change by putting a price on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Here’s how they work in simple terms:

• What They Are: One carbon credit equals one tone of CO2 either removed from the atmosphere or prevented from being released. Companies that emit CO2, like factories or airlines, can buy credits to offset their pollution.
• How They’re Created: Projects like protecting forests, planting trees, or using renewable energy generate credits by reducing or storing CO2. These projects are verified by organizations like Verra to ensure they make a real difference.
• Why They Matter: The money from selling credits funds conservation and community projects, creating a win-win for the environment and people.

African Parks uses a specific type of project called REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). By protecting forests and grasslands from being cut down or degraded, they keep carbon locked in trees and soil, earning credits that can be sold to fund their work.

The Projects: Conservation in Action

African Parks manages 22 protected areas across 12 African countries, covering millions of hectares. Their carbon credit projects in CAR and Benin are shining examples of how conservation can pay for itself.

Chinko National Park, Central African Republic

Chinko National Park, located in the remote eastern part of CAR, is a biodiversity hotspot home to elephants, leopards, and rare antelopes. African Parks, in partnership with the Swiss consultancy South Pole, launched a REDD+ project to protect its forests and sav savannahs from encroachment by farmers and herders. According to Helge Mahne, African Parks’ global funding director, this project generated $7.35 million in carbon credit sales, as reported by Mongabay on July 3, 2025.

The funds support:

• Ranger Training and Anti-Poaching: Employing and training local rangers to protect wildlife from poaching.
• Community Development: Building schools, clinics, and clean water systems for nearby villages.
• Ecosystem Protection: Monitoring and maintaining the park’s forests to ensure they continue storing carbon.

Insert a photo here of Chinkoo National Park, showing rangers patrolling or wildlife like elephants to highlight conservation efforts.

Pendjari and W National Parks, Benin

In Benin, African Parks manages Pendjari and W National Parks, part of the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex spanning Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Named for the W-shaped bend of the Niger River, these parks are home to lions, elephants, and buffalo. A REDD+ project, also developed with South Pole and certified by Verra, protects these areas from deforestation. While exact revenue figures for Benin were not disclosed, Mongabay notes that an unspecified sum was raised, contributing to the total of over $7 million.

The project benefits include:

• Sustainable Agriculture: Training farmers to grow crops without clearing park land.
• Job Creation: Employing locals in conservation roles, like park guides or rangers.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting critical habitats for endangered species.

Insert a photo here of Pendjari National Park, showcasing its wildlife or community members engaged in sustainable activities.

Park	Country	Project Type	Revenue	Key Activities
Chinkoo National Park	Central African Republic	REDD+	$7.35 million	Ranger training, anti-poaching, community development
Pendjari & W National Parks	Benin	REDD+	Unspecified	Sustainable agriculture, job creation, biodiversity protection

Financial Impact: Turning Carbon into Conservation

The $7.35 million from Chinko and additional funds from Benin are a game-changer for African Parks. Conservation is expensive rangers need salaries, equipment, and training, while communities need support to thrive without harming nature. These funds help cover these costs, making conservation sustainable.

For example, in Chinko, the revenue has funded:

• Anti-Poaching Patrols: Over 100 rangers patrol the park, reducing illegal hunting.
• Community Projects: Schools and clinics built with carbon credit funds improve local quality of life.
• Park Infrastructure: Roads and monitoring systems ensure effective management.

In Benin, similar investments support sustainable livelihoods. For instance, women’s cooperatives producing shea butter from trees in Pendjari provide income while preserving forests. This shows can create a cycle were protecting nature benefits people, encouraging them to support conservation.

Insert a pie chart here showing how carbon credit revenue is allocated (e.g., 40% park management, 30% community development, 20% anti-poaching, 10% infrastructure).

Benefits of for Conservation

 offer unique advantages over traditional funding sources like tourism or donations:

• Sustainable Funding: Unlike tourism, which can drop during crises like COVID-19, provide steady income as long as forests are protected.
• Climate Impact: By preventing deforestation, these projects reduce CO2 emissions, helping meet global climate goals under agreements like the Paris Agreement.
• Community Empowerment: Funds support local jobs, education, and healthcare, aligning conservation with human development.
• Scalability: With growing demand for credits, more parks can adopt this model, amplifying impact.

Compared to tourism, which a 2018 study found leaves 90% of African parks underfunded with a $1–2 billion shortfall, are more resilient. They don’t rely on visitors and can operate in remote or conflict-prone areas like CAR.

Insert an illustration here comparing to traditional funding, showing stability and scalability.

Challenges and Criticisms

 aren’t perfect. Some challenges include:

• Additionality: Critics question whether projects would happen without carbon credit funding. African Parks ensures additionality by targeting areas at risk of deforestation.
• Permanence: Forests could be lost to fires or illegal logging, releasing stored carbon. African Parks uses buffer zones and monitoring to mitigate this.
• Market Integrity: Some have been criticized for greenwashing. African Parks’ projects are certified by Verra, ensuring high standards.

Despite these concerns, African Parks’ rigorous verification processes and partnerships with trusted organizations like South Pole and Verra build confidence in their credits’ quality.

Insert a diagram here explaining additionality and permanence, with examples of African Parks’ safeguards.

Indian Context: Lessons for Conservation

India, with its rich biodiversity in places like the Western Ghats, could adopt similar carbon credit models. The Western Ghats store vast amounts of carbon and are home to unique species like the Nigiri tahr. REDD+ projects here could fund conservation while supporting local communities.

For example, consider Ramesh, a farmer near Karnataka’s Daneli Wildlife Sanctuary. By joining a carbon credit project, Ramesh could receive training in sustainable farming, reducing his need to clear forest land. The revenue could fund schools or healthcare in his village, much like in Benin. India’s growing voluntary carbon market, driven by companies aiming for net-zero, makes this a viable opportunity.

Insert a photo here of the Western Ghats, showing its lush forests or local communities engaged in conservation.

Future Prospects: Scaling Up Conservation

African Parks manages 22 parks across 12 countries, covering over 15 million hectares. Seven of these parks are exploring carbon credit programs, suggesting significant potential for growth. The global voluntary carbon market, valued at $2 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $40–100 billion by 2030, offering a huge opportunity.

Initiatives like the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative aim to produce 300 million credits annually by 2030, with countries like Kenya and Tanzania already leading. African Parks could expand its model, funding more parks and supporting global goals like the UN’s 30x30 target to protect 30% of the planet by 2030.

Insert a timeline here showing African Parks’ plans for expanding carbon credit projects by 2030.

Conclusion: A Model for the Future

African Parks’ $7 million carbon credit success is a beacon of hope for conservation. By turning forests into financial assets, they’re protecting wildlife, fighting climate change, and uplifting communities. This model shows that environmental and economic goals can align, offering a blueprint for the world.

In India and beyond, could transform how we fund conservation. By supporting these efforts, we can all play a part in preserving our planet’s natural heritage for future generations.

Call to Action

Want to make a difference? Explore how you can support conservation through carbon offsetting at African Parks’ website. Share this story to raise awareness or learn more about India’s carbon market opportunities at  

Actionable Guidance

• Support Conservation: Donate to organizations like African Parks or Indian NGOs like the Wildlife Trust of India.
• Offset Your Emissions: Use online calculators to measure your carbon footprint and buy credits from verified projects.
• Advocate for Change: Support policies that integrate carbon markets into national climate strategies.
• Spread Awareness: Share this post or join discussions on social media to educate others about 

Insert a motivational image here, like a thriving forest or a quote like “Protecting nature today ensures a greener tomorrow.”