Our Vision

At Soils for the Future Tanzania (SftFTZ), our vision is to restore Tanzania’s degraded grasslands and savanna ecosystems to benefit nature and people – particularly those who depend directly on the land. By working with pastoral communities, we enhance grazing and fire management practices to increase soil carbon storage, a crucial step in strengthening climate resilience. This stored carbon is used to create carbon credits that can be sold to support these management activities, creating a sustainable funding model that supports land restoration and local livelihoods.

Partnering with Pastoralists for a Sustainable Future

Pastoralists play a vital role in managing and restoring their lands. Our approach reinforces traditional pastoral practices, ensuring that grazing remains a sustainable, resilient and hopefully primary livelihood. By collaborating with SftFTZ, pastoral communities increase soil carbon, which is converted into carbon credits—providing long-term financial support for cultural and ecological sustainability. Unlike short-term aid, carbon financing provides the potential for long-term sustainable land restoration solutions to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists and their cultural identity. It is only through the business of carbon financing that this is possible – in stark contrast to recent declines in funding international aid.

Our Commitment:

Protecting Ancestral Rangelands

Our soil carbon projects safeguard traditional pastoral practices. The Maasai have long managed communal lands through seasonal grazing; moving between wet and dry season ranges. Using a rotational grazing approach enhances—not restricts—this system. This method promotes livestock to be more mobile within these grazing areas, and purposefully supports historic livestock movement among grazing areas. There is ample scientific evidence that this rapid rotational grazing system works in East Africa to increase soil carbon and resilience to climate change. Further reading: Increased pastoralist livestock mobility is associated with large-rangeland restoration and soil carbon sequestration.

2. Community-Led, Inclusive, and Transparent

In each village, we work directly with grazing committees, ensuring that decisions are made by the people who are directly responsible for managing their livestock. These committees include women, youth, and elders, fostering inclusive leadership. Every step follows the principles of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)—a globally recognized standard that ensures ongoing dialogue and decision-making at the village level.

FPIC is a continual process and we are committed to improving the information sharing and trust building over the lifetime of the project. All engagements with villages are done with the oversight of the District – as required by Tanzanian law. There is no conflict with local land use plans – as grazing management plans already exist and are created by grazing committees; the rapid rotational grazing plans we promote are simply a modification of existing grazing plans that are created and approved by grazing committees.

3. Long-Term Commitment, Local Control

International standards for carbon projects require a long-term (40-year) commitment to ensure carbon permanence, which is essential for tackling climate change. However, participating communities remain in control—agreements are reviewed every five years, and villages can choose to stay or leave the project at their own will and on their own time frame.

4. Real Benefits for Communities

Villages that join our carbon project decide how to use their benefits from the carbon project. To date, funds have already supported:

Invasive species removal to restore grazing lands
Infrastructure improvements that strengthen rangeland management

Unlike traditional aid, which can be unpredictable, carbon financing provides long-term support that aligns with local priorities.

5. A Model That’s Already Working

Pastoralists in the project recognize the benefits of this partnership. Recent meetings with grazing committees have shown overwhelming support and appreciation, as communities see tangible improvements in land health and financial stability. Contrary to misleading claims, our agreements are transparent, ensuring mutual trust and shared decision-making.

The Future of Pastoralism is Resilient

SftFTZ is proving that carbon projects can work for both people and the planet. By restoring soil health, securing rangelands, and providing financial incentives, we are strengthening the future of pastoralism—ensuring it remains a viable, sustainable way of life for generations to come.

Misinformation surrounding land use and conservation efforts in Africa is not new: see here. In Rachel Nuewer’s article, Africa’s Conservation Conundrum, Maxi Pia Louis, director of the Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management Support Organizations states “People don’t respect science anymore, and they’re making decisions without really having evidence. People are just emotive, and that is my biggest concern.” Some falsely claim that soil carbon projects harm pastoralism to draw on such emotions. The reality is the opposite: our Longido and Monduli Rangeland Carbon Project (LMRCP) is built on transparency, community leadership, and sustainability, supporting a future where both people and the ecosystems they depend on thrive. Our results speak for themselves. Together, we can support pastoral communities, restore degraded lands, and tackle climate change—one hectare at a time.