Project Description
The Bamboo – Kibale 1 project establishes a 9.46 hectare bamboo system in Kibale District, Uganda. The project stores carbon in above-ground biomass, below-ground root systems, and soil organic carbon. Bamboo’s fast growth and extensive rhizome network make it one of the most effective natural carbon removers, with the system expected to remove over 5,000 tonnes of CO₂e over its 20-year implementation period.
About the Remover
Bamboo 4 All the World (Netherlands) develops bamboo-based carbon removal projects in collaboration with local communities. The Kibale site is operated under a rental arrangement with Ugandan landowners, ensuring shared benefits. The organization has committed to a 20-year duty of care, with the intention to maintain and regenerate the land for the long term.
Scope
· In scope:
· Above-Ground Biomass (bamboo culms, fruit trees, shrubs)
· Below-Ground Biomass (roots and rhizomes)
· Soil Organic Carbon
· Out of scope
· Harvested products
· Construction-stored carbon
Baseline data was established using ESA Sentinel datasets and CDM AR-ACM0003 methodology.
Additionality & Permanence
Additionality: Bamboo afforestation is not included in Uganda’s NDCs or afforestation programs; removals are therefore additional. Baseline carbon stocks were conservatively included in the project assessment.
Permanence: The project commits to 20 years of management with an expected storage duration of 100 years. Bamboo systems build long-lived soil carbon (humic and fulvic acids) that persist for decades to centuries. Ugandan law and forestry policies provide further safeguards against reversal.
Co-benefits
Biodiversity: Survey documented 26 forb species, 11 graminoids, 6 shrubs, 5 tree species, and 4 crop species, creating habitat diversity and supporting fauna, alongside 4 crop species. In addition, fruit trees such as mango, guava, and soursop have been planted at field edges, further enhancing habitat diversity and supporting fauna.
Soil & Water: Bamboo improves infiltration, prevents erosion, and enhances soil fertility.
Community: Intercropping with maize, beans, groundnuts, and potatoes provides food and income security. Fruit trees and bamboo fences add further local benefits.
Resilience: Restoration of degraded land enhances climate adaptation capacity in the Lake Albertine agro-ecological zone.