Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project

Location: Tallulah, Louisiana (Northeastern Louisiana)
Project type: Reforestation Project
Standard: Voluntary Carbon Standard & Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction
Verification/Validation: Rainforest Alliance

Environmental Benefits

Mitigate climate change
Restore habitat for estimated 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish
Revitalize endangered/threatened species such as the Louisiana Black Bear, Florida Panther
Improve water quality and erosion control

Community Benefits

Improved area for hiking, biking, and other activities
Nature photography
Suitable destination for school groups
Locally sourced seed, employment opportunities

Project Description

The Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project is restoring native bottomland hardwood forests in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley region of Northeastern Louisiana. While once covered in dense forests, this region now supports less than 20% of its original 22 million forested acres due to decades of land conversion for agriculture.

Forest-based projects are beneficial not only for the local area and the variety of ecosystem services they provide, but forests also sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. This project was the first reforestation project in North America to be validated to both the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards.

Over the project lifetime, the Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge Reforestation Project is expected to sequester more than 600,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.