Zurich-based carbon removal company Tivano has issued its first CO₂ Removal Certificates (CORCs) from its Dragonfly project, the largest terrestrial biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More storage operation in Africa. Located near the city of Otjiwarongo in Namibia, the initiative targets the regional crisis of bush encroachment. The project successfully achieved certification under the Puro Standard Terrestrial Storage of Biomass methodology, producing over 1,000 CORCs. These credits are now available on the market for buyers seeking high-integrity carbon dioxide removal solutions.

The primary environmental challenge addressed by the Dragonfly project is severe bush encroachment within the savanna ecosystem of Namibia. This phenomenon involves an aggressive increase in the density and area coverage of invasive bush species, which systematically overtake and suppress native vegetation. The proliferation of these unwanted plants dries out competing species, compromises local biodiversity, and disrupts regional hydrology. Left unmanaged, the ecological imbalance threatens both the native wildlife habitats and the productivity of the surrounding agricultural lands.

To mitigate this environmental degradation, Tivano implemented an innovative terrestrial biomass storage strategy. The operational team selectively harvests the invasive, unwanted bush species across the heavily impacted territory. Instead of allowing the harvested wood to decompose or burn—actions that would release stored greenhouse gases back into the atmosphere—the biomass is placed into dedicated underground storage. This specific methodology prevents decomposition, effectively locking away the atmospheric carbon dioxide within the organic matter for a verified durability period of at least 100 years.

The operational outcomes of the Dragonfly project demonstrate notable environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Tivano has successfully restored 120 hectares of Namibian land from invasive bush coverage, a territory equivalent to approximately 170 football fields. This restoration has successfully revitalized the local savanna hydrology, improved groundwater levels, and rehabilitated native wildlife habitats. Furthermore, the initiative generated economic co-benefits by enhancing income opportunities for local farmers and directly creating 15 new jobs within the Otjiwarongo community.