In the Isangi Forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a carbon credit project led by the company Jadora has left local communities disillusioned. Initially, Jadora promised sustainable alternatives to deforestation, such as fish and livestock farming, in exchange for forest preservation. However, the fish ponds were poorly maintained, and no market access was provided, leading villagers to abandon the initiative.
Community leader Andre Boena criticized the project’s failure, pointing to unfinished infrastructure, like a local school that lacks basic facilities. Jadora, owned by the US businessman Daniel Blattner, claimed to have prevented 1.3 million tons of CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2013, selling the resulting carbon credits to companies like Lidl Switzerland and Bloomberg. Despite these profits, locals saw little benefit. Many returned to deforestation to survive.
The project ended after the Congolese government questioned Jadora’s land titles. The certification body Verra confirmed early success but could not verify the project’s later years and acknowledged local dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, Blattner’s son is reportedly launching a new carbon project nearby, continuing what some call a “green rush.”
(This video summary was created using AI. A journalist edited it before publication.)
