The media is full of stories about how carbon-crediting projects ignore the voices of local people. I’ve read countless articles proclaiming that people in the global north swan in, sell carbon that’s been captured by trees in the global south and do not share their profits with people like me. To be honest, these types of articles have always left me feeling sad and confused. How can others have experienced the carbon markets so differently from me?
My name is Kisaro Thomas Lombutwa and I always say that I am a “typical Masai.” By this I mean that my grandparents were Masai, my parents are Masai and I grew up in Makame in northern Tanzania. My parents raise livestock and for them, as for nearly everyone in my village, land is life.
Without our lands, we cannot survive. And, it may surprise you to read this, but this land is one of the reasons so many of us value our local carbon credit project. How do I know this? Well, last year I worked with a social science research team to see how carbon revenue impacts my Masai community. This is what I discovered.
About the author
Kisaro Thomas Lombutwa
Kisaro Thomas Lombutwa was born and raised in the heart of Makame Wildlife Management Area. While part of the WMA management team he gained invaluable experience in natural resource governance, community engagement, and sustainable land use practices. Kisaro is now the Makame Savannah project manager where he works closely with local leaders, stakeholders, and conservation partners to ensure that the voices of his community are heard and that they receive equitable compensation from conservation efforts.
