The GRO Initiative, led by the GRO Foundation, is a large-scale afforestation project designed to restore Uganda’s degraded landscapes while creating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.

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GRO Foundation is a social-impact organization committed to planting 1 billion trees and lifting millions out of poverty by 2030 through sustainable livelihood projects and connecting grassroots communities to the global carbon market.​

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This initiative is pioneering climate finance solutions that directly benefit Uganda’s vulnerable communities, women, and youth. Implemented under CDM methodology AR-ACM0003 and ISO 14064 standards, the afforestation project focuses on:

 

• Restoring natural biodiversity by rehabilitating forest reserves, riverlands, and pocket forests.

• Enhancing sustainable land use practices in collaboration with Uganda’s Ministry of Water & Environment, local authorities, and kingdom-managed lands.

• Creating co-benefits, including rural electrification, water and food security initiatives, and job opportunities.

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Project Scope & Impact

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• Crediting Period: 45 years (May 15, 2024 – May 14, 2069)

• Planned Tree Planting: 255 million native trees on deforested public and institutional lands

• Carbon Sequestration Potential: 138,571,687 tCO₂e over 45 years (Annual Average: 3,079,370 tCO₂e)

 

Addressing Critical Challenges

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Without intervention, Uganda’s deforested lands face continued land degradation and illegal agricultural expansion. The baseline scenario highlights:

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• Lack of natural regeneration in deforested areas.

• No government-mandated reforestation requirements.

• Significant financial and technical barriers to afforestation without carbon financing.

 

Through the GRO Initiative, these challenges are tackled by incentivizing local communities to become stewards of the land, ensuring long-term ecosystem restoration and economic benefits.

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Scaling Impact Through Carbon Finance

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GRO Foundation is revolutionizing climate finance by connecting Uganda’s grassroots communities to the global carbon market. Partnering with Carbonmark, the initiative is expanding afforestation efforts through the trade of ex-ante carbon credits, securing vital capital for reforestation and community-driven development.

 

“Our collaboration with Carbonmark is a game-changer for GRO,” said Paul Flynn, Founder and Trustee of GRO Foundation. “With Carbonmark’s advanced platform, we can accelerate the trade of carbon credits while ensuring that the communities we work with benefit directly. Together, we’re creating a model for how nature-based solutions and innovative finance can drive both environmental and social impact.”

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Carbon Credits

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The GRO Initiative is verified and registered with the International Carbon Registry (ICR)—a globally recognized organization founded in 2020 and headquartered in Iceland, dedicated to tackling climate change through rigorous carbon certification standards.​​