A major climate initiative in Mozambique is putting business tools directly into the hands of rural communities, aiming to turn more than 300,000 villagers into green entrepreneurs. The Greater Limpopo REDD+ Project (GLRP), spearheaded by BioCarbon Partners with support from the Mozambican government, is rolling out across 2.9 million hectares and it’s doing more than conserving forests.
Launched in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation and energy giant Eni, the project isn’t just about trees. It’s about trade, training, and transforming local economies through sustainable land-use, alternative livelihoods and carbon revenue-sharing schemes.
Operating across four provinces Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala and Manica the project promotes sustainable agriculture, efficient energy use and income diversification. Locals are being trained to manage resources, generate income from carbon credits and build profitable alternatives to deforestation.
In practice, that means new agricultural methods, access to clean energy solutions and community-run business initiatives like eco-tourism, honey production and reforestation nurseries all tailored to the ecological and cultural context of each district.
GLRP is rooted in Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) ensuring that communities voluntarily join and shape the program. From the outset, local farmers, traditional leaders and civil society were invited to co-design interventions, not just receive them. In many areas, communities are now running conservation cooperatives as profitable ventures.
With support from central and local government, GLRP is also integrating into Mozambique’s broader regional development strategy, positioning forest-dependent communities as frontline entrepreneurs in the climate economy.
Revenue from carbon credits is being reinvested into food security, water access, small business grants and eco‑friendly infrastructure. The model, trialed in Zambia, is fast gaining traction in Mozambique as a high-impact, low-carbon entrepreneurship engine.
Stakeholders say trust and transparency are what make this model work. More than just a conservation effort, the Greater Limpopo REDD+ Project is a business model for climate justice one that could reshape how African economies adapt to global environmental challenges.
With early success stories emerging, GLRP is being closely watched as a blueprint for scaling community-driven green enterprise across the SADC region.
