More Than Carbon
You might have heard about getting carbon credits from growing trees. But did you know Tree Aid is pioneering a better way to do both?
A way that not only removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere, but also brings much-needed income to communities in Africa already living with the effects of the climate crisis.
With backing from Tree Aid supporters, these communities grow and care for trees that provide food, sustainable businesses, and restore land. Now, thanks to carbon credits, communities can also get paid for protecting those trees, keeping the carbon safely stored in the ground, while using the funds for what matters most to them: sending their children to school, accessing healthcare, clean water, and more.
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Why do we care about carbon?
Carbon dioxide is a gas that exists naturally in our environment. But human activity, like burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests and large-scale commercial farming, has added far too much of it to the atmosphere. This is causing the climate to heat up faster than ever before.
The effects are already being felt through extreme weather, changing seasons, and damage to wildlife, ecosystems and people’s lives.
Pictured: Imam Massaer in Senegal, walking across an area of dryland
That’s why governments and organisations around the world are working to reduce how much carbon we release into the air. But many things we rely on, like transport, manufacturing and growing food, still produce emissions. While we shift to cleaner solutions, one way to slow the damage is through carbon credits.
What are carbon credits?
Imagine you're at the airport for a work trip. You're only allowed one suitcase, but you need extra equipment, so you're over the limit.
Instead of cancelling your trip, you pay someone with space in their suitcase to carry your extra luggage. They agree, and now your baggage is balanced.
This is similar to how a carbon credit works. Each credit represents one tonne of carbon dioxide that has either been removed from the atmosphere or prevented from being released.
When you buy a credit, you're paying someone else, like a tree-growing project, to carry that carbon load for you. You’ve still produced emissions, but someone else has helped to balance it out.
If more credits are created than emissions made, carbon credits can even help reduce the total amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.
Can I buy carbon credits?
No, not unless you're representing a large organisation. Our carbon credits are available for companies and large organisations. Individuals can’t purchase them directly, but your support still powers the work behind them.
Potential problems with carbon credits
Some people worry that carbon credits can be seen as a “get-out-of-jail-free card”. Big polluters might buy credits instead of making real changes to cut their own emissions.
Tree Aid’s position is clear. Carbon credits should only be used to balance emissions that are genuinely hard to avoid, and they must go hand in hand with serious efforts to reduce emissions wherever possible. Anyone we work with on carbon has to meet this standard.
So how do we make sure carbon credits meet the high standards we believe in?
Setting new, higher standards for carbon credits
In 2025, Tree Aid’s Tond Tenga project in Burkina Faso became the first in the world to be verified under the new Verra Carbon Standard.
This means the carbon credits it produces have been independently assessed to meet the highest standards. Not just in terms of carbon, but also in delivering real social and environmental benefits.
It’s a major milestone, and we’re proud to be leading the way.
Pictured: Alimata Tiendrebeogo, in Burkina Faso, with a tree seedling, part of the Tond Tenga project
We are incredibly proud that our work, giving communities in Burkina Faso direct access to a share of income generated from carbon credits, is not only impactful but innovative.
More than carbon
Pictured: Members of the Vohoko cooperative, part of Tree Aid's Tond Tenga project with tree-seedlings
Tond Tenga is more than a carbon project. It’s a community-led solution to both the climate crisis and poverty.
The name Tond Tenga means "our land" in the local Mooré language, reflecting the deep connection between people and nature in this part of West Africa.
In a region facing desertification, deforestation and more frequent floods and droughts, the project supports small-scale farmers to grow trees that restore the soil, support food production and create new sources of income from nuts, seeds and other tree products.
Our goal is long-lasting change: land and life, stronger together.
You make this possible
Carbon credits help unlock vital funding from institutions and businesses.
But none of this would be possible without the ongoing support of people like you.
Tree Aid supporters play a crucial role in helping communities grow trees, restore land and build life changing businesses.
While individuals can’t buy carbon credits from Tree Aid directly, your donations still power all the work behind them; from training farmers, to protecting seedlings, to supporting communities thrive.
Together, we have grown over 40 million trees where they are needed most!
But your support means more than planting trees. It means standing with people on the frontlines of the climate crisis and backing long-term solutions that work for people and the planet.