With demand for land remaining high in the agricultural sector, large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) continue to reshape rural landscapes and communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In the last few years, however, a critical but often underestimated new force has added further pressure to land: the growth of carbon …

This working paper, authored by several Land Matrix members, raises concerns about the adverse impacts land-intensive, nature-based solutions - although central to the voluntary carbon market (VCM) - may have on vulnerable communities. This research examines the regulatory scope of leading carbon standards and their implementation in offset projects in …