Climate Curve

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Primary Project Category:

Name of Project:

Year Project Originated:

Project Summary / Description:

Riziki tackles the problem of invasive mesquite by turning it into useful biochar that improves soil health and removes carbon from the atmosphere. We work with local communities to harvest the weed, operate our kilns, and earn income from a resource that previously caused major losses for farmers and pastoralists. The biochar we produce helps restore degraded land, supports better crop growth, and protects wildlife areas. By converting a fast-spreading invasive plant into a valuable climate solution, we create steady jobs, strengthen rural livelihoods, and generate verified carbon credits that offer long-term, measurable environmental impact.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Our project already empowers groups that are often underrepresented in the climate movement, especially climate-vulnerable communities living in dryland areas overrun by invasive mesquite. These households have long faced limited economic opportunities, and our model directly changes that. Women and youth are actively engaged as paid harvesters, kiln assistants, and field technicians, creating real income where few alternatives exist. Many of our harvesting teams are led by women, and young people are already gaining hands-on skills in operations, monitoring, and carbon data collection.
This empowerment is also reflected inside our organization. Women hold key leadership roles, including our CEO and Operations Manager, and much of our field staff is recruited directly from the communities where we work. By involving local people at every stage of harvesting, production, and decision-making, we ensure that those who have been most affected by land degradation are not only benefiting financially but are also central players in delivering climate solutions.