Across the sun-scorched plains of northern Tanzania, Maasai pastoralists are fighting to protect their ancestral lands from a new threat: carbon credit projects. Global investors, backed by multinational corporations, are securing deals to use Tanzanian grazing lands for carbon storage, promising economic and environmental benefits. But for Maasai communities, these projects feel like a modern land grab, threatening their traditional way of life.
A Disguised Land Grab?
Over two million hectares of Maasai land have been targeted by carbon offset initiatives, including the Longido and Monduli Rangelands Carbon Project supported by Volkswagen ClimatePartners, and The Resilient Tarangire Ecosystem Project backed by The Nature Conservancy.
Under these schemes traditional Maasai grazing practices are being replaced by rotational grazing systems, where cattle must move in strict 14-day cycles to maintain soil carbon levels. Many herders, like Joseph Ole Parsaloi fear these restrictions will disrupt their livelihoods and make it harder to find adequate pasture.
“Most villagers don’t even understand what they signed up for,” said Na Nalichilichi, a researcher at the Maasai International Solidarity Alliance (MISA). Contracts, some lasting up to 40 years, were pushed through without proper consultation, leaving Maasai communities bound to agreements they had little say in.
Broken Promises and Hidden Pitfalls
Project organizers claim carbon trading will bring new income to local communities. But Maasai leaders remain skeptical, recalling past experiences with wildlife tourism and conservation zones, where promised benefits never materialized.
The biggest concern is control over their land. “The contracts dictate how we use our land for decades. If we want to leave the deal, we have no clear exit,” said Parsaloi.
Many communities have received only meager one-time payments, compared by critics to a “dowry” a temporary financial relief that ultimately locks them into restrictive agreements.
Tanzania’s Carbon Credit Push
The Tanzanian government sees carbon credits as a tool for conservation and economic growth, projecting $1 billion annually from carbon sales. Vice President Philip Mpango has called for faster approvals to expand the sector.
But as Tanzania rushes into global carbon markets, local communities fear being sidelined in the race for profits. MISA and other activists are demanding transparency, proper consultation, and protection of Maasai land rights.
Flawed Science and Uncertain Benefits
Tanzania is not alone in facing carbon trading controversies. A 2023 investigation found that 90% of rainforest carbon offsets sold by a leading certifier were worthless. Soil carbon offsets like those in Maasai rangelands are even harder to measure and may not deliver real climate benefits.
“The idea that Maasai rangelands can store carbon for polluters is flawed,” said environmental researcher Henry Kileo. “In semi-arid climates, soil carbon levels are highly variable, and there’s no guarantee these projects will work.”
As opposition grows, Maasai communities are organizing legal battles and advocacy campaigns. Young warriors, once trained to defend cattle from lions, are now preparing to defend their land in courtrooms.
Maasai activist Tina declared “Land is everything to us Without it, our way of life disappears. With the memory of forced evictions in Ngorongoro and Loliondo still fresh, the Maasai are determined to resist. This is not just about land It’s about our survival as a people.”