Milestones
- Padezaka Protected Area: 2021
- Padezaka credits verified: 2026
The Padezaka Forest Carbon Project protects approximately 4,800 hectares of intact tropical rainforest on South Choiseul, delivering sustainable development benefits for around 4,000 Indigenous landowners.
Padezaka’s forest is the largest forest area in the locally led Babatana Rainforest Conservation Project. It was declared an official protected area in 2021 and Padezaka had their first verification audit in 2025, enabling them to start selling credits alongside Sirebe and Siporae.
Income from credit sales will contribute to livelihood needs, school fees and village water and sanitation facilities, and is shared fairly among Padezaka community members.
Padezaka's forest lies along the Kolombangara River and is part of the Maetambe–Kolombangara River forest corridor, one of the most important forest landscapes on Choiseul Island. Protecting Padezaka's forest also protects habitat for a wide range of native and endemic species, including some that are threatened or vulnerable.
4,800 hectaresof rainforest legally protected
270,635 tonnesCO2 verified emissions reductions since the project commenced
4,000 community membersare protecting forests and supporting people
"Padezaka forest was created with clean rivers for water and full of plants and animals. We want it to stay this way. From other tribes where there is logging, birds have come into our forest. It’s a safe haven for all the animals. We have to keep the Padezaka tribal land for the future benefit of our children to come."
