Carbon Credit Land Grabs: Concerns Rise Over Transparency and Community Rights

The burgeoning market for carbon credits, intended to incentivize environmental protection and combat climate change, is facing increasing scrutiny due to concerns about land grabs, lack of transparency, and potential harm to local communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Recent cases, including a large-scale agreement in Africa that appears to have stalled, highlight the risks associated with these projects.

The Blue Carbon Project: A Case Study in Opacity

In 2023, an Emirati company, Blue Carbon, chaired by Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, signed agreements with six African nations – Angola, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – to develop carbon credit projects across approximately 25 million hectares of land, an area comparable to the size of the United Kingdom.^[1] These agreements aimed to put forest resource management under Blue Carbon’s control, with the company receiving a share of the revenue generated from selling carbon credits to companies seeking to offset their emissions.

However, as of early 2026, none of these projects have materialized. Blue Carbon’s website was taken offline in the summer of 2025, and the reasons for the project’s abandonment remain unclear. ^[4] Authorities in the affected countries have reported receiving no updates on the progress of the initiatives. The UN and several NGOs had previously cautioned the signatory countries about the potential legal risks of ceding control over their natural resources.

A Growing Trend: Large-Scale Land Acquisitions for Carbon Offsets

The Blue Carbon project is not an isolated incident. A report by the Land Matrix initiative estimates that since the beginning of the 21st century, investors have acquired 8.8 million hectares of land for carbon offset projects, predominantly in developing nations. ^[4] Although large-scale land acquisitions (ATGE) represent a portion of carbon credit production, the broader trend raises concerns about land governance and the rights of local communities.

The global carbon market experienced significant growth in the early 2020s but has since contracted, partly due to a lack of transparency from some project developers and controversies surrounding the overvaluation of CO2 reductions. ^[4]

Impact on Local Communities and Ongoing Conflicts

Projects like the iTeraka project in Madagascar have faced criticism for potentially forcing farmers to dedicate resources to uncertain benefits. ^[4] The concentration of land acquisition projects in countries with weak land governance systems creates opportunities for land grabs, disproportionately affecting local communities. Africa is particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon, but other regions, including Brazil, are similarly experiencing similar issues.

Current Events: February 23, 2026

As of February 23, 2026, ongoing conflicts and geopolitical events are impacting various regions. In Nigeria, Nigerian Army troops killed five suspected Lakurawa insurgents, recovering a cache of weapons. ^[4] In Ukraine, Russian forces launched missile and drone strikes, resulting in civilian casualties. ^[4] In Pakistan, security personnel were killed in attacks in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region. ^[4] In Ecuador, a mass shooting resulted in multiple deaths. ^[4] the US military conducted a strike on a suspected drug smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, resulting in fatalities. ^[2]

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges, the carbon market is still viewed by some as a useful tool for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. ^[4] Greater standardization and increased awareness of greenwashing risks could contribute to a more robust and trustworthy market. However, addressing the concerns surrounding land rights, transparency, and community involvement remains crucial for ensuring that carbon offset projects deliver genuine environmental and social benefits.