Forest protection projects reduce emissions from deforestation, forest degradation, sustainable forest management, and carbon stock conservation. Developing countries can also earn results-based payments for emission reductions through these activities.
VCS1201 is an Avoided Deforestation project in southeast Sierra Leone and is the first REDD+ project in the country. The project seeks to conserve 68,000 hectares of the Gola Rainforest National Park, which is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot. Under the management of the Gola Rainforest Conservation LG and in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and conservation organisations, the project aims to mitigate deforestation risks through robust conservation management. It also aims to promote sustainable livelihoods and agricultural practices among forest-edge communities.
Follow the latest milestones and updates from this project.
The project formally achieved validation under the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards 2nd Edition
Forest protection under this REDD+ project prevents large quantities of carbon from being released into the atmosphere, approximately half a million tonnes of CO₂e per year, and keeps around 19 million tonnes of carbon stored in forest biomass. The project also promotes natural regeneration in degraded areas and strengthens climate resilience by educating communities on climate impacts, improving ecosystem health, and monitoring forest and biodiversity indicators. By keeping the rainforest standing and functioning, it contributes directly to both climate mitigation and adaptation
By conserving the largest remaining block of Upper Guinea tropical rainforest in Sierra Leone, the project safeguards critical habitat for hundreds of species, including endangered and threatened birds and mammals such as chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, and other flagship species. The area is part of a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot and forms important ecological corridors across the Greater Gola Landscape. These efforts help maintain species richness and ecological connectivity, which are essential for long‑term ecosystem resilience
The project supports sustainable livelihoods and social development for communities around the Gola Rainforest in Sierra Leone and Liberia. It funds community initiatives that build long‑term economic opportunities, such as farmer field schools, community‑managed loan schemes, and training programmes (including gender inclusivity training). These help local farmers improve crop yields and diversify into sustainable high‑income activities like forest‑friendly cocoa production, which has been exported and recognised internationally.
The project supports forest-friendly, sustainable commodity production and has established 42 cocoa farmer groups with over 1,500 registered cocoa farmers. The cocoa farmer associations have exported more than 35 tonnes of rainforest friendly cocoa into the international market, where it is being recognised for its quality and unique story (Gola Rainforest Chocolate). 83 villages have participated in cocoa mapping and cocoa growing support programmes
658 scholarships for secondary schools were awarded in 2017, in communities where families cannot normally afford to educate their children past primary school.
Project activities help local farmers integrate commercially viable and sustainable practices into their work. 35 farmer field schools provide training to improve crop yields and quality. As part of this, 90 “Master Farmers” have been trained to cascade training and support other farmers and 66 community members have been trained as Gender Inclusivity trainers. 35 Community managed Loan Schemes have been established to allow communities to buy equipment and seeds necessary to implement sustainable agricultural practices. 450 people have benefited to date, primarily women.
24,000 people in 122 different communities directly benefit from the project
Although the primary objective of the Gola project is protecting the existing high carbon stores, the project also enables significant carbon removal as well through natural regeneration of previously degraded areas. Since its inception in 2012, it is estimated that the project area has sequestered an additional 460,000 tC02e.
The biodiversity hotspot contains 327 bird species, 31 fish species and over 100 other mammal species including the pygmy hippopotamus.
These partners help deliver the project and verify its impact.
Gola Rainforest Company Limited by Guarantee (GRC-LG) is a joint venture organization established in 2014 to manage the Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone and protect the surrounding transboundary ecosystem
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program is the world's most widely used greenhouse gas (GHG) crediting program.
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Projects developed under the CCB Program must follow a rigorous assessment process to be certified. The CCB Standards are managed by Verra but were developed through a multi-stakeholder process by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance, a partnership of CARE, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, the Rainforest Alliance and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
