Lignaverda – Organisation Description
Lignaverda is an international non-profit organisation founded in 2008, almost 20 years of experience restoring degraded landscapes in semi-arid regions of Africa. Recognised by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Lignaverda operates at the intersection of ecological restoration, climate action, and community development, primarily in Senegal and Namibia.
Mission and Goals
Lignaverda's mission is to restore degraded ecosystems in dryland Africa in a way that is ecologically sound, scientifically grounded, and deeply rooted in the needs of local communities. The organisation's goals extend beyond carbon sequestration: it seeks to rebuild biodiversity, regenerate soils and water systems, and create lasting socio-economic opportunities for the communities it works with.
Our Approach
Unlike organisations focused on rapid, large-scale planting, Lignaverda prioritises long-term forest survival and management. Projects are built around four pillars: water and soil regeneration, biodiversity restoration, community resilience, and socio-economic development. All work is carried out using native tree species adapted to local dryland conditions, combined with smart water harvesting techniques that improve soil quality, reduce erosion, and significantly increase tree survival rates. Local communities are engaged at every stage, from planning and training to planting, maintenance, and long-term protection of young forests.
Past and Current Activities
Since 2008, Lignaverda has implemented seed-based, large-scale reforestation programmes in the Sahel and southern Africa. Current activities include:
Large-scale reforestation using seed-based methods together with local communities
Soil carbon enhancement through regenerative land management practices such as cover crops, rotational grazing, and reduced tillage
Industrial biochar production, converting sustainable biomass into stable biochar that locks carbon in soils for millennia while improving soil structure and crop productivity
Enhanced rock weathering, applying finely ground minerals to farmland to accelerate natural CO₂ removal while improving soil pH and fertility
Local employment creation through seed collection, planting, maintenance, and forest protection activities
Development of agroforestry systems and non-timber forest product value chains to ensure forests have greater economic value than firewood alone
On the carbon markets side, Lignaverda focuses exclusively on carbon removal credits -which extract and store CO₂ from the atmosphere -rather than avoidance credits. This positions the organisation's work as directly relevant to credible net-zero strategies, including those aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Future Planned Activities
Looking ahead, Lignaverda aims to scale its portfolio of nature-based and science-backed carbon removal solutions, expanding both the geographic reach of its reforestation programmes and the diversity of its carbon removal techniques. The organisation will continue to deepen its engagement with local communities, reinforcing the principle that sustainable landscape restoration is only possible when communities benefit directly and economically from it. Lignaverda also intends to further develop its carbon credit offerings to meet growing demand from organisations seeking high-integrity, long-duration carbon removal as part of their climate commitments.
Become a supporter!
Donate or start a fundraiser