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The Gashaka Gumti Forest, Nigeria's largest national park, has recently garnered international recognition with its selection for the UK-backed Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment. This initiative, which was announced on Tuesday, marks a significant milestone for Nigeria in the realm of nature-based climate solutions.

Chosen from over 100 applicants across 28 African countries, Gashaka Gumti emerged as one of only four projects selected in the inaugural cohort to receive feasibility and development support. The programme is crafted to mobilize investment into projects that not only aim to cut emissions but also enhance carbon sequestration, protect biodiversity, and improve local livelihoods.

The projects selected represent a diverse array of ecological zones across Africa: in addition to Nigeria's Gashaka Gumti, Kenya's Papariko Mangroves are set to restore coastal mangrove forests, Tanzania's Rubeho Mountains initiative will focus on community-based forest protection, and Zambia's Barotse Rangelands project aims to combine rangeland rehabilitation with livestock productivity improvements.

These four projects were meticulously evaluated based on their stage of development, social and environmental impact, potential for scalability, and alignment with the preferences of carbon buyers and investors. Notably, the Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment (CAPE) prioritized initiatives that promise tangible community benefits alongside environmental protection.

Launched in November 2024 and funded by FSD Africa in collaboration with the African Natural Capital Alliance and Finance Earth, CAPE addresses the critical shortage of early-stage financing for nature-based carbon projects throughout the continent. These solutions—ranging from forest regeneration to mangrove restoration—are increasingly recognized as vital components in the fight against climate change.

However, many initiatives struggle to move beyond the conceptual phase due to insufficient upfront capital. CAPE seeks to remedy this by providing recoverable grants and tailored advisory services to help projects transition to investment readiness.

As 62 percent of Africa's GDP relies on natural capital, CAPE not only aims for environmental preservation but also strives to bolster economic resilience. The initiative also aspires to reinforce confidence in Africa's carbon markets by backing projects that exhibit strong community governance, measurable biodiversity outcomes, and credible carbon accounting practices.

Reshma Shah, the carbon markets lead at FSD Africa, emphasized that CAPE is designed to unlock Africa's vast potential in the global carbon market. She articulated a vision where Africa's natural capital serves not merely as a solution to the climate crisis, but as a catalyst for addressing intertwined global challenges while promoting equitable growth.

For Nigeria, the Gashaka Gumti project is poised to deliver a multitude of benefits: it aims to restore degraded ecosystems, sequester millions of tonnes of carbon, protect endangered species, and provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities. By creating investment opportunities and job prospects, it positions Nigeria as a frontrunner in Africa's transition to a green economy.

Analysts suggest that the success of CAPE's pilot projects could set a new standard for climate financing across the continent. If effectively scaled, this model could attract billions in both private and public investments into Africa's nature-based carbon markets, helping to close the estimated global biodiversity funding gap of between $598 billion and $824 billion annually.