The Carbon Market Bets on an Invasive Tree

Decades ago, an invasive tree was planted in the Banni grasslands of Kachchh, India, to solve one environmental crisis. Today, big companies are paying to convert the same trees into biochar, a carbon-rich charcoal, to solve another problem. The process involves clearing the invasive tree, Prosopis juliflora, and burning it in low-oxygen conditions to produce biochar. The biochar is then mixed with cow dung or manure and applied to the soil. However, the effectiveness of this process is being questioned by experts and local communities. One of the main concerns is that the biochar may not be stored in the soil for centuries as claimed, but instead may be washed away or used as a fertilizer. In Sangnara village, a stockpile of biochar has been left in the open for two years, and in another village, the local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) cleared Prosopis from 30 hectares, converted it into 100 tonnes of biochar, and generated 220 carbon credits. Another concern is the ecological cost of restoration. Producing biochar in a Kon-Tiki kiln requires water, which is a scarce resource in Kachchh. The water crisis in the region is severe, and the use of saline water to quench the burning biomass is causing corrosion of the kilns. The regrowth of the invasive tree is also a concern. In Banni, Prosopis removed from degraded grazing lands had, by 2025, reinvaded the same areas, with growth nearly doubling. Villagers said that while funds are being allocated for biochar production and the removal of mature trees, there is no financial support for clearing the new recruits that rapidly regenerate. Varaha, the company behind the biochar project, has acknowledged that significant restoration following Prosopis juliflora removal at a particular site would take at least three to five years of continuous effort. However, the economics of thorough removal are unworkable, and the compensation rate from the company is low. The carbon market's bet on an invasive tree raises several questions about its effectiveness and impact on local communities. While the project may generate carbon credits, it may not be addressing the root cause of the problem and may even exacerbate it. The use of biochar as a solution to climate change needs to be carefully evaluated, and its impact on local communities and ecosystems needs to be taken into account. ## The Carbon Credit Conundrum The carbon credit system is based on the premise that the biochar produced ends up durably buried in soil, storing carbon for centuries. However, on the ground in Kachchh, soil application is not being tracked with the same rigour as production itself. The lack of transparency and accountability in the carbon credit system raises questions about its effectiveness and impact on local communities. ## The Ecological Cost of Restoration The production of biochar in a Kon-Tiki kiln requires water, which is a scarce resource in Kachchh. The use of saline water to quench the burning biomass is causing corrosion of the kilns, and the water crisis in the region is severe. The regrowth of the invasive tree is also a concern, and the lack of financial support for clearing the new recruits that rapidly regenerate is a major issue. ## The Future of Biochar The carbon market's bet on an invasive tree raises several questions about its effectiveness and impact on local communities. While the project may generate carbon credits, it may not be addressing the root cause of the problem and may even exacerbate it. The use of biochar as a solution to climate change needs to be carefully evaluated, and its impact on local communities and ecosystems needs to be taken into account.