In Cameroon’s East Region, the Green Lions project entered the Verra validation phase on February 2, 2026. The process is scheduled to run through February 27, 2026, with an independent technical audit mission expected to visit the Ndélélé and Bétaré-Oya sites starting February 23. The objective is to verify the project’s compliance with Verra rules and methodologies, a prerequisite for registration under the program.
Verra is a United States-based international nonprofit organization that develops and manages environmental certification standards. Successful validation would allow the project to generate verified carbon credits, intended to finance long-term emissions reduction and ecological restoration activities.
Led by Terraformation, Green Lions is launching on an initial area of 8,289 hectares located on degraded gold mining sites within the communal forests of Ndélélé and Bétaré-Oya. The project combines native forest restoration with cocoa-based agroforestry under an integrated production approach, aimed at rehabilitating ecosystems affected by artisanal mining while developing income-generating agricultural activities. Ultimately, nearly 16,000 hectares of forest are expected to be restored.
A 40-year restoration project
Native forest restoration will rely on the direct planting of more than 25 species of indigenous trees adapted to local ecosystems. In parallel, cocoa agroforestry will associate cocoa trees with shade trees to combine long-term carbon sequestration, soil rehabilitation, and income generation for surrounding communities.
The project plans for the planting of 15 million trees and 2 million cocoa trees. Terraformation says that “more than 2,500 hectares will be dedicated to cocoa cultivation near existing agricultural zones. At full maturity, this agroforestry system is expected to generate significant annual income for local stakeholders.”
According to projections released by the project, the Ndélélé and Bétaré-Oya forests could generate around 5.4 million tons of verified carbon credits, with an estimated net value of just over CFA56 billion, or $100 million. The project is designed to run until March 31, 2067, with the first issuance of carbon credits expected as early as April 2027.
Ludovic Amara
