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The Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project is a forest carbon project, that is protecting and restoring 83,381 hectares of tropical forest in Sabah

Improved Forest Management (IFM) means managing existing forests more carefully—thinning less, extending harvest cycles and protecting sensitive stands—so that trees grow larger and store extra carbon. Registries require 100-year monitoring to make sure the carbon stays locked away.

Technical note on carbon benefits from extended harvest rotations.

US Forest IFM Potential (USFS Brief)

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Improved Forest Management

Malaysia

Buyer Protection

Counts towards net zero

Awarded an A rating

The Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project is delivering on three core objectives:

Climate: Protect and restore the carbon-rich forest, whilst preventing the emissions from the planned deforestation and forest degradation of the area. This will help mitigate the global climate crisis.
Community: Improve the lives, well-being and sustainable economic opportunities of the communities living around the forest area.<
Conservation: Monitor and research species and ecosystem health and safeguard habitats to increase the chances for tropical forest biodiversity to thrive.

The project is assessed against the science-based and globally recognised Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Verra Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standard to both demonstrate the project’s scientific rigour and to enable it to generate income from Verified Carbon Units (VCUs), or carbon credits.

The project combats climate change by preventing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Protecting and regenerating the forest locks in carbon and increases sequestration. 

Once heavily logged, the area is now a strict class 1 protection forest, eliminating commercial logging and guarding against illegal logging, encroachment, and fires. 

This protection preserves critical tropical habitats and boosts biodiversity. The project supports 29 mammal and 12 bird species listed as rare or endangered by the IUCN. 

Efforts focus on forest protection and hunting control, supporting elephants, banteng, orangutans, and endangered birds like the helmeted hornbill, Bornean peacock pheasant, and storm’s stork.

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Protected hectares of tropical forest ecosystems in the Tongod and Kinabatangan districts 

 Local community members from two village clusters benefit from this project

Joint highest-rated IFM project on the Sylvera platform

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Supporting Permian Global means supporting the development of forest conservation projects with the goal of mitigating climate change while providing alternative livelihoods to local communities and protecting biodiversity.

Kuamut Rainforest Conservation

Spanning one of the last remaining intact lowland rainforests in Malaysian Borneo, the Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project delivers exceptional climate, biodiversity, and community impact. By preventing deforestation and restoring degraded areas, it safeguards critical habitats for endangered species such as orangutans, Bornean banteng, and hornbills, while generating high-integrity, Verra-certified carbon credits. 

Built on a pioneering public–private partnership, the project channels finance into long-term forest protection and locally led development, ensuring both environmental permanence and socio-economic resilience. For companies seeking measurable climate impact and alignment with global biodiversity goals, Kuamut represents a rare opportunity to support a truly world-class nature-based solution.

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Permian

Carbon finance was essential to halt commercial logging and convert the concession to protected forest, with no alternative funding available.

Conservative quantification using VM0010 methodology with 28% leakage deduction and satellite-verified forest canopy monitoring.

Protects a highly biodiverse landscape with 910 identified species, including 9.2% threatened species such as the Borneo bay cat, proboscis monkey, and Bornean elephant. CCB certified with comprehensive forest surveillance.

Biodiversity Protection

Employs 34 people in project management and monitoring, including 6 local community members and 10 women. Provides training on gender equality and financial literacy, contributing to SDG 5, 8, and 10.

Community Employment

Improved access to safe drinking water through construction of a gravity-fed water system serving community households, contributing to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Clean Water Access

Provides dedicated medical transport boat for emergency evacuation from local villages, improving healthcare access and contributing to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Healthcare Access

Conservative 28% leakage factor applied per VM0010 methodology with no activity-shifting leakage detected in the surrounding region.

Projected drought increases pose moderate risk despite Sabah rainforest resilience, though 30-year secured credit rights and ~12% buffer pool provide safeguards.

Sylvera

BeZero

Verra VCS

CCB Standard

Developer Engagement

The project’s protected forest area has no human habitation. Approximately 10 kilometers north and northeast of the protected area are two village communities, the Kuamut and the Karamuak. 

Engagement with these indigenous communities was led by Pacos Trust, a Sabah-based NGO, through extensive Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) workshops. These sessions provided detailed information and addressed community questions about the project and its partners. 

With the communities’ full consent, the project team has worked closely with the Kuamut and Karamuak to jointly design social development programs tailored to their needs. The project is an important local employer, supporting sustainable business development and helping improve health, education, and wellbeing through community-led initiatives.

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The project is listed on the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registry for Methodology VM0010 (project number: 2609).


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Verra

Protecting and restoring tropical forest in Sabah, Malaysia

Carbon Removal

The Katingan Mentaya Project (KMP) protects and restores tropical peatland forests in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, on Borneo. Managed by PT Rimba Makmur Utama and Permian Global, it focuses on conserving vital ecosystems and supporting local communities.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects focus on conserving and restoring forests to reduce CO2 emissions and protect biodiversity. These projects engage local communities, governments, and NGOs in sustainable forest management practices, which help prevent deforestation and degradation, support ecosystem resilience, and promote long-term climate benefits. REDD+ projects deliver verified emissions reductions while empowering communities with economic incentives for conservation.

This report outlines how REDD+ supports Germany's forest and climate protection policies by promoting measures to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.

REDD+: Protecting forests and climate for sustainable development

This fact sheet provides an overview of REDD+, explaining its role, objectives, and benefits in supporting developing countries to reduce emissions through sustainable forest management and conservation efforts.

UN-REDD+ Fact Sheet

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REDD+

Indonesia

Counts towards net neutrality

Awarded an AA rating

The Katingan Mentaya Project (KMP) is a tropical peatland forest protection and restoration project in Central Kalimantan Province of Indonesia, on the island of Borneo. The project is managed through a partnership between Indonesia-based PT Rimba Makmur Utama (PT RMU) and Permian Global. 
The protected forest area covers 157,875 hectares (of which the project carbon accounting area is 149,800ha), where it generates an average of 6 million verified carbon units (VCUs) or carbon credits per year. The project delivers community development programmes throughout this area, which are designed through close collaboration with the communities and have been improving the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of local people for more than 15 years. 
The project is a triple gold rated forest carbon project, which means it has been third-party verified against the Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard.

In the heart of Borneo’s dense, waterlogged peat forests, the Katingan Mentaya Project is helping preserve one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. Instead of allowing deforestation, drainage or fire to take hold, the project focuses on protection, rewetting and targeted reforestation. The result? Millions of tonnes of CO₂ are kept out of the atmosphere and a landscape regains its natural resilience. This is climate action that’s not only measurable but also visible.

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Validated against the VCS and has achieved “Triple Gold” status under CCB

Protects the habitat for 6 critically endangered; 11 endangered; 27 vulnerable species referenced on the IUCN Red List

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Permian Katingan Mentaya

KMP is one of the most ambitious REDD+ projects globally, not just because of its scale, but due to its systems-level approach. It targets a critical tipping point in the global carbon cycle: tropical peat soils. Through science-based management, rigorous third-party certification and deep-rooted local engagement, it achieves what many projects struggle to deliver: a credible balance of ecological integrity, social inclusion and market relevance. With high carbon storage, strong community impact and top-tier ratings, KMP sets a benchmark for high-quality nature-based climate solutions.

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Community livelihood development is a core priority for the project. In partnership with 39 villages, the project works to build capacity in community decision-making and identify sustainable initiatives for co-development and land use, through support for activities identified during the participatory planning process.

The community development programmes have been designed and implemented with full consultation with the communities and are reviewed periodically to ensure continued effectiveness.

Alongside the support for sustainable business development, the project also delivers programmes that are working to improve the health, education and wellbeing of local communities. 

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The project is listed on the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registry for Methodology VM0007 (project number: 1477).

The project is recognised as one of the highest-quality projects by BeZero, earning an impressive AA carbon rating.

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The Katingan Project by Permian Global has undergone rigorous validation by SCS Global Services, ensuring the highest standards of credibility and transparency.


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SCS Global Services

Protecting 157,875 hectares of carbon rich peatland forest in Central Kalimantan, on Indonesian Borneo.

Carbon Avoidance

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Protecting 166,983 hectares of biodiverse forest and supporting 12,000+ Indigenous Bunong people in Cambodia.

Cambodia

Awarded an BBB rating

Nestled in the dense forests of eastern Cambodia, the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS) is a haven for wildlife and a vital resource for the Indigenous Bunong people. The sanctuary spans over 292,690 hectares, with the REDD+ project area protecting 166,983 hectares of some of the most biodiverse forest in Southeast Asia.The KSWS REDD+ Project, launched in 2010, is a collaboration between the Royal Government of Cambodia's Ministry of Environment and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It represents Cambodia's largest carbon emission reduction program in the land use sector and is a key part of the country's commitment to the Paris Agreement.

The sanctuary sits at a critical deforestation frontier. The neighboring Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary lost almost all of its 62,000 hectares of forest cover and was degazetted in 2018. The Keo Seima project has successfully held the line against this advancing wave of destruction, preventing approximately 25,000 hectares of predicted deforestation since 2010.

Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest documented species count of any protected area in Cambodia, with more than 1,000 species recorded—including 15 species new to science. The project protects 85+ globally threatened species including the world's largest populations of black-shanked douc langurs (~25,000 individuals) and southern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons. Other flagship species include Asian elephants, giant ibis (Cambodia's national bird), and green peafowl. Since 2010, the project has prevented 25,000 hectares of predicted deforestation and avoided 20+ million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

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The Keo Seima REDD+ project protects 166,983 hectares of Cambodia's most biodiverse forest, supporting Indigenous Bunong communities and 85+ globally threatened species.

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Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary

The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary REDD+ Project sets the gold standard for community-centered forest conservation.

As Cambodia's largest carbon emission reduction program, this project demonstrates what's possible when rigorous conservation science meets genuine community partnership. The contrast with the neighboring Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary—which lost nearly all its forest cover and was degazetted—provides stark evidence of the project's effectiveness.

What makes Keo Seima exceptional is its holistic approach. Rather than treating carbon as an isolated metric, the project integrates biodiversity monitoring, Indigenous land rights, and sustainable livelihoods into a coherent strategy. The Cash for Communities program exemplifies this: by letting villages decide how to invest carbon revenue, the project builds local ownership of conservation outcomes.

The biodiversity credentials are equally impressive. With more species recorded than any other protected area in Cambodia—including the world's largest populations of black-shanked douc langurs and yellow-cheeked crested gibbons—this is a true biodiversity hotspot. The CCB Gold certification for exceptional biodiversity benefits is well-deserved.

For companies seeking REDD+ credits that combine climate impact with verified biodiversity benefits and genuine community co-benefits, Keo Seima represents a high-integrity choice backed by one of the most respected conservation organizations in the world.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

Well-documented deforestation pressure, though evolving Cambodian conservation policies may overlap with some project activities over time.

Large-scale avoided deforestation across 166,983 hectares with satellite-verified forest monitoring under Verra's VM0015 methodology.

Protects habitat for 85 globally threatened species including the world's largest populations of black-shanked douc langur and yellow-cheeked crested gibbon.

Biodiversity Conservation

Supports indigenous Bunong and Stieng communities with communal land titling, education scholarships, and over $2 million in community funds distributed.

Indigenous Land Rights

Improved school infrastructure for 3,700+ students and competitive scholarship programmes for indigenous youth.

Education Access

Achieved 75% reduction in deforestation among participating villages through community engagement and forest patrols.

Deforestation Reduction

Active leakage belt monitoring with buffer deductions in place, and community programmes help manage surrounding agricultural pressures.

Regional land-use pressures require sustained management, though WCS partnership and 60-year crediting period provide long-term stability.

CCB Double Gold

CSRD

CCP (ICVCM)

The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is the ancestral and current home of the Indigenous Bunong people. The project has secured seven Indigenous Community Land Titles (ICTs), including Cambodia's first ICT in a protected area. The innovative Cash for Communities (C4C) benefit-sharing program has distributed over $1 million directly to local communities from 2018–2023. Villages invest these funds in self-selected development projects including livestock programs, education, and infrastructure. The project has improved livelihoods for 11,799 people and created 300+ jobs through agricultural programs, sustainable harvesting, and the Jahoo Gibbon Camp ecotourism venture.

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The project is listed on the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) registry for Methodology VM0015 (project number: 1650).

The project is recognised as one of the highest-quality projects by BeZero, earning a BBB carbon rating.

Protecting the world's most biodiverse sanctuary

Smallholder farmers in Ghana convert agricultural waste into biochar, sequestering CO₂ for centuries whilst improving soil health, crop yields, and livelihoods.

Biochar is a carbon removal method where organic materials like wood or crop waste are heated in a low-oxygen environment to create a stable form of carbon called biochar. This process, known as pyrolysis, turns the carbon into a solid that can be buried in soil. Once in the soil, biochar can trap carbon for hundreds to thousands of years, helping to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Beyond carbon removal, the biochar process also addresses waste management and enhances soil fertility, leading to improved agricultural productivity.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recognised <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/chapter-4/ biochar">biochar</a> as a viable carbon removal method. Similarly, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has <a href="https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC55799"> demonstrated biochar's significant potential</a> in both carbon sequestration and soil health improvement.

Biochar in soil sequesters carbon and mitigates greenhouse gases, aiding climate change mitigation.

Role of biochar in carbon sequestration

Biochar production and soil mixing offer carbon sequestration benefits; biomass and soil availability support viability.

Biochar as a viable carbon sequestration option

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Biochar

Ghana

Carboneers' biochar projects in the Volta, Oti, Northern, Upper West, and Savannah regions of Ghana engage smallholder farming communities to convert agricultural residues — cacao pod husks, corn stalks, peanut shells, and sorghum stalks — into biochar using innovative Earth-Kiln technology. The resulting biochar is mixed with compost or manure and applied to nearby fields, storing carbon in the soil for over 1,000 years whilst boosting fertility and crop yields. 

Over 60% of carbon credit revenue flows directly to farming communities, with at least 50% of participants being women. The project is certified under the Carbon Standards International (CSI) Global Artisan C-Sink standard and third-party audited by CERES CERT.

Carboneers' projects are certified under the Carbon Standards International (CSI) Global Artisan C-Sink standard and third-party audited by CERES CERT. The Earth-Kiln pyrolysis technology reduces methane emissions by 94% compared to open burning of crop residues. Biochar application improves soil water retention, reduces dependence on synthetic fertilisers, and enhances biodiversity. Digital MRV via PlantVillage with IoT sensors and GPS tracking ensures rigorous measurement of every batch produced.

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Carboneers transforms agricultural waste into long-lasting biochar in Ghana's farming communities, sequestering carbon for over 1,000 years whilst supporting smallholder livelihoods and soil health.

Carboneers Ghana - Farmer with Biochar and Cacao

Carboneers' Ghana

Carboneers' Ghana project empowers smallholder farmers to convert crop waste into biochar using innovative Earth-Kiln technology, sequestering carbon for millennia whilst boosting soil health and community livelihoods across five regions.

Ghanaian Carboneers

No biochar market or government incentives exist in Ghana; farmers stop producing when carbon payments are delayed, proving financial dependence.

Lab-verified 63% carbon content and 690°C production temperature, with conservative permanence factors applied per C-Sink methodology.

Replaces open-field burning of agricultural residues with smokeless pyrolysis, reducing particulate matter and wildfire risk across rural Ghana.

Air Quality

Biochar mixed with compost increases water-holding capacity, nutrient retention, and microbial activity in tropical acidic soils.

Soil Fertility

68% of project participants are women, employed as both producers and supervisors with equal pay, providing a vital second income stream.

Women Empowerment

Carbon credit payments via mobile money provide smallholder farmers with additional income, reducing dependence on expensive chemical fertilisers.

Farmer Livelihoods

Only agricultural waste residues with no competing uses are pyrolysed, sourced within 30 km of production sites.

H:C ratio of 0.27 ensures 75% persistent aromatic carbon with stability exceeding 1,000 years in soil.

Global Artisan C-Sink Standard

EBC (European Biochar Certificate)

Carboneers' Ghana projects engage hundreds of smallholder farmers across the Volta, Oti, Northern, Upper West, and Savannah regions. Over 60% of carbon credit revenue is shared directly with farming communities through transparent mobile money transfers. Women hold the majority of field team positions (61%) and at least 50% of project participants are women or youth, creating opportunities for underrepresented groups. Farmers earn additional income from biochar production whilst improving their soil fertility and crop yields.

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This project has passed the Isometric Standard, verifying that its carbon credits are durable, additional, and measured using advanced scientific techniques.

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Isometric

The Carbon Standards International has verified the biochar carbon removal, ensuring a 100-year permanence for carbon storage.


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Carbon Standards International

Biochar from agricultural residues like soybean stalks and cacao pods

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Exomad Green turns excess biomass into biochar at Bolivia's Concepción 1, the world's largest biochar project.

Bolivia

Forestry practices can leave up to 50% of a harvested tree unused, and this excess biomass is usually wastefully burnt or piled up, leading to carbon dioxide emissions.Exomad’s project in Bolivia uses state-of-the-art equipment to burn this excess biomass in chambers at extreme temperatures, turning it into biochar.

Their large-scale biochar production can sequester up to 200,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. In a short time span, the project has become the global leader in biochar sales, with nearly 300,000 tonnes sold.

Exomad donates their biochar to local indigenous communities and farmers, empowering them to enhance their agricultural yields. By doing so, the project supports their livelihoods and actively contributes to reducing deforestation, ensuring the preservation and sustainable use of our invaluable South American forests.

In 2022, Bolivia had the 3rd highest rate of primary forest loss, globally. The project plays a key role in the Amazon’s conservation, with Bolivia sharing 7.7 % of the rainforest. Biochar that is spread on surrounding farms’ crops helps to increase yields, which in turn helps reduce deforestation.

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Exomad’s project in Bolivia uses state-of-the-art equipment to burn this excess biomass in chambers at extreme temperatures, turning it into biochar.

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Exomad Green

Exomad Green's Concepción 1 project is a must-have in every portfolio.By converting unused biomass into biochar, the project tackles CO2 emissions from waste and sequesters carbon long-term. With an annual CO2 sequestration capacity of 200,000 tonnes and nearly 300,000 tonnes of biochar produced, it has quickly become the global leader in biochar production. 

The project demonstrates a strong commitment to social responsibility by donating biochar to indigenous communities and farmers. This approach empowers local agriculture, enhances crop yields, and contributes to reduced deforestation, creating a positive cycle of environmental conservation and community development. 

Recognized by environmental authorities like the IPCC and the European Commission's JRC, Concepción 1's success highlights biochar's potential in carbon removal. As Exomad continues breaking records, the project exemplifies how industry leadership can align with environmental stewardship and social impact, paving the way for a greener economy.

Capital-intensive pyrolysis infrastructure requires carbon finance; sawmill residues would otherwise be burned or left to decompose.

High per-tonne removal with 86.3% carbon content, independently audited under ISAE 3000 with digital MRV tracking.

Donates biochar to local indigenous communities to regenerate degraded land, increase crop yields, and reduce pressure on forests.

Indigenous Farming Support

Eliminates open burning of sawmill residues, reducing air pollution and fire risk for approximately 250,000 regional inhabitants.

Air Quality Improvement

Creates 50+ direct and 200+ indirect green jobs in rural Bolivian communities with full insurance and social benefits.

Green Job Creation

Transforms sawmill waste into biochar, syngas, and bio-oil, reusing over 70% of process heat and recycling water within the plant.

Circular Economy

No displacement risk as feedstock is locally sourced sawmill waste within 10 km that would otherwise be incinerated.

Biochar carbon persists for centuries to millennia with CORC 100+ durability rating and near-zero reversal risk.

Puro.earth

The project is tackling critical community issues like health, fire hazards and job creation. By providing free biochar to local governments, they’re also supporting indigenous populations, boosting agricultural productivity by up to 33%, ensuring food security, and helping to create 300 + jobs. 

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