Under the scorching sun of northern Tanzania Joseph Ole Parsaloi moves across the dry plains, guiding his cattle through the vast landscape. Like generations before him, he relies on the land for grazing but a new challenge threatens his way of life. Foreign backed carbon credit projects are imposing restrictions on traditional grazing sparking fears among the Maasai of land dispossession under the guise of climate action.
For thousands of Maasai pastoralists communal grazing has been the foundation of survival. However carbon offset projects, such as the Longido and Monduli Rangelands Carbon Project and The Resilient Tarangire Ecosystem Project are changing how the land is used. Supported by international investors, these initiatives aim to store carbon in the soil by enforcing controlled grazing cycles. Yet, the Maasai argue that these agreements were made without proper consultation and threaten their way of life.
A Disguised Land Grab?
Over two million hectares of Maasai grazing land are now part of carbon trading schemes. Contracts some lasting up to 40 years require villagers to follow structured grazing patterns. Critics warn that these deals, similar to past land grabs for wildlife tourism and conservation strip the Maasai of their traditional land rights.
Na Nalichilichi, a researcher at the Maasai International Solidarity Alliance (MISA) says “Most people don’t even know what they signed up for, Women and young people, who will inherit these contracts were completely left out of discussions.”
Broken Promises and Hidden Pitfalls
Project organizers argue that carbon markets offer a new source of income, with Tanzania expecting to earn $1 billion annually from carbon credit sales. However, Maasai leaders remain skeptical, recalling past broken promises. Some villages report receiving only small, one-time payments, while contracts lock them into long-term commitments with no clear exit.
Parsaloi says “The biggest problem is control. The contracts dictate how we use our land for decades.”
Opposition is growing. Young Maasai warriors, once trained to defend cattle from lions, are now preparing to defend their land through legal battles and advocacy. In Ngorongoro and Loliondo, violent evictions in 2022 set a precedent, forcing communities to mobilize. MISA, formed in response to these crises, is demanding transparency, genuine consultation, and protection of Maasai rights.
Environmental experts also question the effectiveness of these projects. “The idea that Maasai rangelands can reliably store carbon for trade is based on flawed assumptions,” said Henry Kileo, an environmental researcher. “There’s no guarantee these projects actually fight climate change.”
As the fight intensifies, one message from the Maasai remains clear: their land is not for sale. “Without land, pastoralism is impossible,” said activist Timan Tina. “This is not just about landit’s about our survival.”