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MODISA
Botswana's 1st nature-based carbon project
Modisa protects ~17,000 hectares of untouched savanna grassland adjacent to KD15 - one of the largest intact Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Botswana spanning over 17,000 km2. In an area where overgrazing driven desertification & shrub encroachment is common, Modisa sets an example of what is possible through sustainable land management and is one of the only permanent hubs for research in the Kalahari also partnered with University of Botswana.
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VAL & SIRGA
The heart and soul of Modisa
The Modisa Wildlife Project was founded by Valentin “Val” Gruner—a lifelong conservationist deeply passionate about the Kalahari’s natural beauty and ancient wildlife migrations. Driven by a profound sense of purpose and duty, Val arrived in Botswana in 2009 on a mission to protect the region’s rapidly dwindling lion population. After working with farmers across Botswana to rehabilitate “problem animals” and lions, Val encountered Sirga—a wild lioness he rescued as an abandoned cub and raised to adulthood. Together, Val and Sirga formed an extraordinary bond, one rarely seen between a human and a wild lion anywhere in the world. Fueled by his love for the wildlife, landscapes, and people of the Kalahari, Val has dedicated his life to conserving this unique ecosystem for future generations—setting an inspiring example of what is possible through compassion and commitment.
THREATS TO THE KALAHARI
Overgrazing and destruction of habitat
Most of Botswana’s 63,000 farms are small, averaging just five hectares, with largely rain-fed operations. To meet export demand, commercial ranches—often over 150 hectares—now account for 20% of livestock production. In response to disease control measures for beef exports, government-erected game fences have fragmented the landscape, ending centuries of wildlife migration. This, paired with absentee landowners (who control nearly half of large ranches), has led to overgrazing, bush encroachment, and widespread desertification. As rangeland degrades, ranchers increasingly push into Wildlife Management Areas, threatening fragile ecosystems already under stress.
THREATS TO WILDLIFE
Catastrophic loss of biodiversity & wildlife populations in the Kalahari
The Kalahari is the largest remaining wild landscape in Africa south of the Sahara, but it’s rapidly changing due to unsustainable agriculture, extractive industries, and climate change. Botswana—home to 70% of the Kalahari—protects 37% of its land, yet over 800,000 hectares of WMAs have been lost since 2016 to commercial rezoning. Overgrazing and encroachment threaten what’s left, with 80% of key herbivores and 90% of lions disappearing over the past decades. Wildebeest herds that once numbered over 250,000 have collapsed, zebra migrations have dwindled to just a few thousand, and springbok populations have declined by more than half in many areas.
200,000+
mt/CO2e saved
CLIMATE IMPACT
Avoided emissions through maintaining sustainable stocking rates (i.e., the number of wildlife) prevent emissions from biomass loss. This is roughly equivalent to the average annual emissions of 43,000 gas-powered cars, or almost 7% of all annual vehicle emissions in Botswana—achieved from managing just 14,000 hectares.
Figure above is calculated using Gazelle's methodology for the avoided conversion of grassland and shrubland. The quantification process is done under the ISO 14064-2 framework and International Carbon Registry requirements v5 and is undergoing an independent 3rd party audit for validation & verification.
THREATS TO THE KALAHARI
The first permanent home for long-term environmental research in the Kalahari at Modisa
Part of Modisa’s long-term goals include creating a home to nurture and develop environmental research benefitial to undertanding and conserving the Kalahari. The research station on site is built entirely off-grid utilizing an array of solar panels, ground water, recycled shipping containers and runs on satellite internet. By end of 2025 the facility will expand to a wet lab, herbarium, and conferencing facilities. Modisa is now partnered with the University of Botswana to support graduate students.
PEOPLE
The team behind Modisa
Robert has been with us since we have relocated and rebuild our project in 2018. He is the man in charge of the camp as receptionist and administrative assistance. He grew up in a small village in the area and has an immense knowledge about the place and its natural resources. During his work with us he has truly found a passion for the wildlife if his home area - the Kalahari desert.
Valentin Grüner is the co-founder of the Modisa Wildlife Project. As Sirga's caretaker and ranger, he devotes his life to preserving and enhancing the Kalahari's unique ecosystem and providing a safe home for its diverse wildlife.
Peter is the youngest in the group and always there whenever one needs assistance. He is a hard worker and has been with us since 2021. Therefore he has been a big part of the building progress as well. He is also from the small village nearby and grew up in the area.
Thato brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. A certified guide with an impressive skill set in tracking, his commitment and enthusiasm are invaluable assets to Modisa. His in-depth understanding of the local fauna helps enhance the guest experience and supports our conservation efforts.
Tebby is our head chef. She will make sure we are all well-fed and her cooking skills make every meal fantastic. Tebby is also from a nearby village where she grew up, and she has been with us since 2023 because there was no need for a chef prior to the camp opening. However, she visited here a few times before because her and Thato are a couple who also have a child together. The kid lives with the family while they are both at work in the bush.
THREATS TO THE KALAHARI
Engaging communities and raising awareness around sustainable land management strategies
Modisa engages the wider community in Kgalagadi South beyond the borders of the carbon project area. The long-term vision is to expand the project area and partner with communities in and around KD15 to protect wildlife, build a nature-positive economy (vis-a-vis ecotourism, photographic rights, reducing poaching), and help conserve these fragile ecosystems. Modisa also hosts community workshops at the research station focused on carrying capacities and land management.
SIRGA THE LIONESS
Sirga: Modisa's Resident Lioness
From an abandoned cub at a predator facility to a symbol of resilience, Sirga the lioness has thrived under Valentin Grüner’s care at Modisa Wildlife Project. However, the reality of releasing a captive lion into the wild is a complex process. The threats from poachers, livestock farmers, and rival lion prides are significant. ​Through the tireless efforts of the Modisa team and the generous backing of our supporters, we have successfully established a 2000-hectare (20 square kilometres) sanctuary for Sirga. Outlined by secure fencing, this marked a fresh chapter for Sirga and the Project Now 11 years old, Sirga enjoys freedom within her reserve. Her bond with Val remains strong, marked by regular visits. With global recognition through television and social media, Sirga serves as an ambassador for wild lions, Modisa, and the Kalahari!
SUPPORT MODISA
Interested in supporting or visiting the Modisa project site?
Besides carbon, the primary goal of Modisa is to create a model of what's possible with sustainable land management and scale-up wildlife conservation in the Kalahari. Modisa is also a licensed ecotourism location hosting guests/volunteers at the research facilities located on-site. This provides a launchpad for volunteers to live, work, and learn about the Kalahari in a hands-on way while providing some financial support. To learn more, visit the Modisa website.
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How do I "get" my carbon credit?Gazelle uses International Carbon Registry (ICR) as our primary standard for our carbon credits. ICR's platform acts as a secure ledger for issued carbon credits and certificates which can be transferred to buyers (individuals or companies).
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How is Modisa different from other carbon projects?Modisa is not only the first carbon project of its kind in Botswana, but also the first in the entire Kalahari region of Africa. Val and his team have pioneered sustainable land management in Botswana’s Kgalagadi South District, demonstrating that it is still possible to proactively manage animal stocking rates, mitigate poaching, and raise awareness around wildlife conservation in ways that had never been done before. It’s important to recognize that any and all climate action is a step in the right direction. However, unlike many carbon projects that are seeded and financed directly by large corporations pursuing net-zero goals, Modisa was founded by Val solely to protect the Kalahari—and it has been operating at a loss for nearly a decade.
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What does it mean to "buy" a carbon credit?Each carbon credit represents one metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent (CO₂e) that has been offset or sequestered by nature. By purchasing a carbon credit, you are financially supporting an activity—such as avoiding the conversion or loss of wildlife habitat—that would likely have occurred without the carbon project protecting Modisa’s 17,000 hectares. Purchasing a carbon credit grants you (the buyer) ownership of the carbon offset, allowing you to mitigate a portion of your own carbon footprint while directly supporting conservation!
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How is purchasing a credit making an impact?The purchase of a carbon credit directly supports project activities that would not occur without financial backing. Carbon credits enable a mutual exchange of value: buyers offset a portion of their carbon footprint in a verified way, while funds are directed into projects that create real, tangible, measurable, and verifiable impact—especially in regions where support is most needed.
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