in what could be the world’s largest strategic land play.
The company, known as ADS Securities, is an emerging markets and commodities broker based in Abu Dhabi, and has acquired one million hectares in Chad – a landmass roughly equivalent to the size of the United Kingdom.
The land, which lies within the administration zone of a Chadian protected area, was secured through a ten-year lease to facilitate the development of carbon sequestration projects as a means of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
The nine pilot projects currently underway are intended to capture up to 70 megatonnes of carbon dioxide annually, while reforestation initiatives seek to restore and protect up to 500,000 hectares of savannah in total.
According to Omar Al Sayed, Chief Strategy Development Officer at ADS Securities, the initiative provides a blueprint for land acquisition in Africa that can act as a catalyst for lasting economic growth in the region.
The project has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, while also creating jobs, strengthening local and regional economies, and promoting sustainable practices. Furthermore, it could even help to reduce conflict, as a secure source of livelihoods in the area could encourage peace and stability.
Ultimately, Al Sayed believes that the project could set a precedent for other African nations to develop environmentally responsible initiatives, offering an example of private sector interests acting to benefit both nature and African communities.
