UK backs Nigeria’s Gashaka Gumti carbon project
Nigeria’s largest national park, the Gashaka Gumti Forest, has gained international recognition as its carbon project was selected among the first beneficiaries of the UK-backed Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment. The initiative, announced on Tuesday, marks a major step for Nigeria in advancing nature-based climate solutions.
The Gashaka Gumti Forest Carbon Project was chosen from over 100 applicants across 28 African countries. It emerged as one of just four projects selected in CAPE’s first cohort to receive feasibility and development support. According to the organisers, the programme is designed to mobilise investment into projects that cut emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, protect biodiversity, and improve local livelihoods.
The four chosen projects represent different ecological zones across Africa. In Nigeria, the Gashaka Gumti initiative will focus on regenerating forests within the national park, which is the largest in the country and one of West Africa’s most important biodiversity hotspots.
Kenya’s Papariko Mangroves will restore mangrove forests along the southeastern coast, while Tanzania’s Rubeho Mountains Carbon Project will work with communities to protect and restore forests in the Eastern Arc Mountains. Zambia’s Barotse Rangelands for Restoration will combine rangeland rehabilitation with livestock productivity improvements.
These projects were evaluated on criteria such as stage of development, social and environmental impact potential, scalability, and alignment with carbon buyers’ and investors’ preferences. CAPE gave particular priority to projects capable of delivering tangible community benefits alongside environmental protection.
Launched in November 2024, CAPE is funded by FSD Africa—a UK financial sector development agency—in partnership with the African Natural Capital Alliance and Finance Earth, an international environmental impact advisor and investor. The programme was created to tackle the chronic shortage of early-stage financing for nature-based carbon projects across the continent.
Nature-based solutions, such as forest regeneration, mangrove restoration, and rangeland management, are increasingly recognised as vital tools in the fight against climate change. Yet many projects fail to progress beyond the development stage due to a lack of upfront capital. CAPE addresses this challenge by providing recoverable grants and tailored transaction advisory services to move projects from concept to investment readiness.
With 62 per cent of Africa’s GDP dependent on natural capital, CAPE seeks to leverage this asset not only for environmental protection but also for economic resilience. It also aims to strengthen confidence in Africa’s carbon markets by supporting projects that demonstrate strong community governance, measurable biodiversity outcomes, and credible carbon accounting.
Carbon Markets Lead at FSD Africa, Reshma Shah, said the initiative was designed to unlock Africa’s vast potential in the global carbon market.
“CAPE shows that Africa’s natural capital is not just a solution to the climate crisis but a catalyst for tackling interconnected planetary challenges while unlocking fair and inclusive growth. These projects go beyond generating carbon credits; they are blueprints for redefining how the world invests in and values nature,” Shah stated.
For Nigeria, the Gashaka Gumti project is expected to deliver multiple benefits: restoring degraded ecosystems, sequestering millions of tonnes of carbon, protecting endangered species, and providing sustainable livelihoods for local communities. By creating opportunities for investment and job creation, it positions Nigeria as a frontrunner in Africa’s transition toward a green economy.
Analysts believe that the success of CAPE’s pilot projects could set a new benchmark for climate financing across the continent. If scaled effectively, the model could attract billions in private and public investment into Africa’s nature-based carbon markets, narrowing the global biodiversity funding gap estimated between $598bn and $824bn annually.
As one of the pioneering projects, the Gashaka Gumti initiative reflects both the urgency of climate action and the potential of African nations to shape the future of environmental stewardship. Its selection is not only a win for Nigeria’s biodiversity but also a statement that Africa’s natural capital can be a cornerstone of sustainable growth.
