Tullow and the Ghana Forestry Commission have completed all requirements to commence full-scale implementation of a joint nature-based carbon offset project, launched earlier this year.

The Forestry Commission, supported by Tullow, will now engage stakeholders at both national and regional levels to finalize project details.

Key activities will include a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment, as well as capacity-building programmes to promote sustainable forest management.

The project, which supports Ghana’s Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Strategy, will conserve and restore approximately 2 million hectares of land in the Bono and Bono East regions and is designed to generate up to 1 million tonnes of certified carbon offsets annually.

The initiative is critical to Tullow’s overall net zero strategy and the carbon offsets generated from the project (developed under leading certification standards) will be used to mitigate hard-to-abate emissions.

Tullow is also focused on decarbonising its operations by eliminating routine flaring in the short term.

Julia Ross, Tullow’s Director of People and Sustainability, highlighted the importance of this step: “This is a significant milestone in Tullow’s commitment to sustainable operations and environmental stewardship.

“Our investment in this project reinforces our commitment to support forest conservation and create long-term environmental and social benefits for Ghana. We see this as the first of many such programmes that will support host nations to meet their development and climate objectives.”