Community Reforestation

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Community Reforestation

Project facts

Project type: Agriculture and forestry

Project location: Nicaragua

Project standard: Plan Vivo

Annual emission reduction: 624.216 t

Project start: January 2010

This community-based reforestation initiative is situated upon a critical watershed that feeds into Nicaragua’s most important estuaries, the Estero Real. This estuary is home to one of the biggest extensions of mangroves and migratory birds in the region, and has been recognized by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance. By reforesting this region, the programme plays an important role in regulating the hydrological cycle, providing important water and biodiversity benefits both locally and internationally and improves the quality of life of smallholder farmers.

Offset emissions

Project overview

The project

These aims will be achieved through the establishment of multiple small-scale native species forest plantations on smallholder land. Participants entering the project own underutilised land and must demonstrate that participating will not conflict with their subsistence activities, notably cattle ranching and agriculture. The project area covers 86 square kilometres and will support rural communities desperately in need of support and incentives to take control of their resources. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a GDP per capita income of $1,079 per year.

Land use planning around watersheds is a key supporting activity; the project area includes one of the most critical watersheds in the municipality of San Juan de Limay, which suffers from seasonal water shortages and flooding. Increased forest cover will retain water through the dry season and minimise flooding in the rainy season. The project will also distribute fuel-efficient fireplaces equipped with chimneys that reduce smoke in the household, generating health benefits, particularly for women.

The project addresses the causes of deforestation, ensures direct, ongoing community involvement and technical training, and provides financial benefits for participants throughout the project. This occurs through payments for ecosystem services (PES) and income from timber and sustainable forest products. As a result, this multi-faceted approach will reduce forest degradation by easing pressure on surrounding natural forest while at the same time sequester quantifiable volumes of CO₂ from the atmosphere and improve the environmental and socio-economic conditions of families located in the community of San Juan de Limay.

The project contains 3 types of plantations: Mixed species plantations (multi-purposed tree plantations composed of fast growing firewood species and longer-lived hardwood species),coffee agroforestry (shade-grown coffee and fruit trees) and silvopastoral planting (tree planting on areas use for cattle-breeding).

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

No poverty

Payments being made to communities across 1,357 farming families where people are living on less than $2/day.

Quality education

Conducted over 30,000 capacity building workshops providing education & training to smallholder farmers.

Gender equality

Women make up 45% of the professional team, many of whom hold leadership positions.

Clean water and sanitation

Regeneration of critical watershed helping protect over 100,000 people from drought and flash-flooding.

Affordable and clean energy

Natural wood fallen from forest provide renewable source of energy for cooking.

Decent work and economic growth

Additional income is created thorugh selling firewood and high value woodcrafts from the smallholder forests.

Reduced inequalities

2,900 seasonal jobs per year, 80% of them are landless farmers.

Sustainable cities and communities

292 rural communities engaged in the project.

Responsible consumption and production

Farmers are not only sequestering CO₂ and regenerating ecosystems but adapting the microclimate and reducing on farm temperatures to protect their yields.

Climate action

1,518,386 t CO₂ being stored.

Life on land

10 million native trees planted, reforesting over 6,167 ha of land (equivalent of 11,527 football fields), habitat and local wildlife regeneration.

Partnerships for the goals

All forests grown through equal partnerships with farmers, communities, local government, international funders and the project implementation team.