The end of March 2025 brought a wave of headlines from Masai Mara, the land of Scarface the lion and the land of generational knowledge. One learning from the land that particularly strikes - strength is not dominance. However the headlines were not as beautiful as these tales or as the western world calls them, folklore - “Maasai pastoralists in Tanzania resisting carbon credit projects that were branded by several media outlets as disguised land grabs.” A classic example of carbon credits being demonised and we are not defending the wrongdoings under the garb of carbon credits here - there are reasons to be scared, but this also brings us to how we, in the Carbon ecosystem need to make sure that quality, co-benefits and social impact are not ignored. Read through the news and the fact that people don’t even know what they signed up for, and how young people were completely left out of the discussions, come to be highlighted. We agree that these are not isolated failures. They reflect a deeper, systemic issue: carbon credits without community consent, control, or clarity.

Carbon credits were intended as tools to support a just climate transition, but without transparency, integrity, or social equity, they become extractive. That’s why we at LongStraw believe in baking “quality” into every layer of a project. And quality does include community benefit as a non-negotiable metric.

Thus, we arrive at how we look at community / social impact -

1. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) as a Foundation, Not a Form

Every project starts with community dialogue—not just a meeting, but a process. We ensure women, youth, elders, and pastoralist leaders are part of decision-making, not just recipients of information. FPIC isn’t paperwork. It’s shared governance. Ostrom much!

2. Contracts in Plain Language, Reviewed by Local Legal Allies

People like us should work with local language experts and legal advisors to make sure every contract is understandable and fair. Communities are supported to retain rights, define terms, and renegotiate if needed. These aren’t handovers, they're partnerships.

3. Tangible, Local Benefits Written Into Every Project

Visible, tangible and lasting benefits. We are not throwing an agricultural course and calling it “tangible vocational improvement.” or “capacity building workshop”. Lastly, we don’t guess what’s needed—we ask, and then we codify it into project design.

What the Tanzania Moment Teaches Us

The problem isn’t carbon credits themselves—it’s carbon credits that exclude, extract, or ignore. If the carbon market wants legitimacy, it must earn trust where it matters most: on the ground.

Carbon credits are not the villain or a wealthy world’s pass to dodge climate responsibility , these become true only when projects sideline communities and erase cultures. Ensuring quality and “proper” social impact makes the difference!