Reforestation
Reforestation and forest preservation carbon offset projects are part of the global warming solution. Forest-based carbon offset projects fight climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere in trees and soil and have many co-benefits for the community and local wildlife. Forest preservation creates jobs, maintains and expands wildlife habitats, protects biodiversity, and improves local environmental quality.
Much of the world’s tropical rainforests have either been cut down or are directly threatened with imminent deforestation. Deforestation and forest degradation have resulted in species loss and direct contribution to global warming. Moreover, deforestation accounts for over 20 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions – more than the entire global transportation sector!
Fight global warming. Protect biodiversity. Help communities. Support forest-based carbon offset projects.
Click on the Buttons Below To Learn More | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
Below are reforestation projects Carbonfund.org donors are supporting.
Return to Forest - Rivas and Granada Provinces, Nicaragua
Return to Forest was awarded the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance Standard’s Gold Rating, making this reforestation project one of the highest quality in the world. In addition to carbon sequestration, the Return to Forest project will also form critical habitat corridors for wildlife, such as the Yellow-Naped Parrot and Central American Spider Monkey.
Thus, such a project helps to increase both the abundance and diversity of wildlife. Additional ecosystem services include reducing erosion as well as improving water and soil quality because trees remove pollutants.
While the community will benefit from the increased ecosystem services, The Return to Forest project will also provide sustainable, local jobs and educational opportunities. This includes three community-run tree nurseries.
Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation - Tensas River Valley, Louisiana
The region, which is known as the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, was once covered in dense forests, but now supports less than 20% of its original 22 million forested acres. Decades of land conversion to agriculture for corn, sugarcane, and cotton have left the remaining forested area highly fragmented.
Wildlife dependent upon such large intact forest ecosystems, including the Louisiana Black Bear, the Florida Panther and many species of neo-tropical songbirds have either disappeared or experienced significant declines. This project offers a unique opportunity to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while simultaneously restoring one of the most important wetland habitats. The refuge is important both in terms of ecological services and biological diversity - an estimated 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish can be found there.
The community, which will also benefit from the increase in ecosystem services, will benefit from the increased opportunities for recreational activities including hiking.
Teng Chong Conservation Carbon Project - Yunnan Province, China
Furthermore, the Teng Chong Conservation Carbon Project was the first to receive a Gold Rating by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance Standard. The area, which is regarded as a key region for global biodiversity conservation, offers habitat for close to 400 bird species and more than 150 mammals including the endangered Leopard, Malayan Sun Bear and China’s only remaining population of Bengal Tiger.
The project also helps to control erosion and naturally combats the invasive weed, Eupatorium. By restoring forests along the fringe of the reserve, Carbonfund.org is helping to establish a buffer zone between the nature reserve and the surrounding communities.
Addressing the needs of both conservationists and the local community, this project helps increase incomes and alleviate poverty in surrounding areas.
The Genesis Forest Project
(Avoided Deforestation & Reforestation) – Cerrado Region, Brazil
The Cerrado Region has been classified as a biodiversity hotspot and features a wide array of unique plant and animal species including the giant anteater, giant armadillo, jaguar, and maned wolf. With less than 2 percent of the region protected in national parks and conservation areas, this area is threatened by the expansion of agriculture for soy and corn as well as cattle ranching. Hence the avoided deforestation aspect of this project is critical.
Following the guidelines of Social Carbon™, the Genesis Forest will be a model for sustainable development for the region adding to the forest’s value as a carbon offset project. The project will be open to local communities and will provide educational workshops to promote the utilization of non-timber products such as oils, native fruits, and honey. These practices can ultimately reduce pressure on remaining forests in the region by promoting economically attractive alternatives to clearing forest for agriculture.
The Genesis Forest Project is designed to meet the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standards and utilizes the Social Carbon™ Methodology developed by the Ecologica Institute of Brazil. This means the long term contribution of the project to sustainable development of the local region will be monitored and analyzed.
Support reforestation carbon offsets. Click here to get started calculating your carbon footprint.
