en.Wedoany.com Reported - Microsoft has entered into a 15-year long-term agreement with Rainforest Builder to purchase up to 1.8 million carbon removal credits, supporting the "Buffalo Project" in Sierra Leone. This carbon credit agreement is one of the largest single-project related transactions in Africa.
Under the terms of the agreement, the "Buffalo Project" will restore approximately 15,000 hectares of community land in Sierra Leone and plant over 10 million trees to rebuild the native rainforest ecosystem. The initiative focuses on the Upper Guinean Forest region, an area rich in biodiversity but facing severe threats, with over 90% of its original forest cover lost due to logging and agricultural activities.
Rainforest Builder currently operates in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Guinea, with its projects employing over 2,500 people. Since 2023, the company has planted more than 1.8 million trees in Sierra Leone, and the new agreement is expected to significantly scale up planting efforts. Unlike short-term offset agreements, this 15-year purchase commitment provides long-term revenue certainty, helping to fund restoration activities, workforce training, and environmental monitoring systems.
This carbon credit agreement supports Microsoft's climate strategy, which aims to become carbon negative by 2030 and remove all historical emissions by 2050. By restoring native tree species, the project aims to rebuild wildlife habitats, enhance carbon storage, and reconnect forest ecosystems, making it a vital tool for global climate mitigation.
Beyond environmental benefits, the project is also expected to bring economic opportunities to local communities. For instance, in 2025 alone, the "Buffalo Project" employed around 1,200 people, and employment is projected to grow further as planting activities expand toward the 10-million-tree goal. Plans also include community land lease arrangements, agricultural support, rural road improvements, and development funds, ensuring residents become long-term partners.
This carbon credit agreement reflects Africa's growing role in the global carbon market. Although Africa accounts for less than 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, the continent faces severe climate impacts. Analysts estimate that high-quality carbon credits from Africa could generate billions of dollars annually and create substantial employment in related sectors, with such agreements seen as a key step in strengthening demand for credible carbon removal projects.
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