プロジェクト概要

The ECO2 Rubber Forests project removes carbon from the atmosphere by reforesting degraded farmlands in Guatemala. To do so, it provides positive incentives for reforestation with sustainable and responsibly managed rubber tree forests. Without this project, sustainable rubber tree plantations would not be an economically viable alternative to clear-cutting forest land for cattle grazing or intensive crops like sugarcane. The 10,000-hectare rubber forests are managed in different areas of Guatemala including: San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Suchitepéquez, Escuintla, Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, and Petén. The local communities benefit from proper management of water quality, public participation, and the provision of resources. The project also provides biodiversity benefits, serving as a buffer zone and biological corridor for natural forests and areas of high conservation value—and ultimately prevents deforestation. Within the project monitoring plan, PICA, the project coordinator develops and updates the management plan for rubber cultivation, carbon monitoring, and data processing. The project coordinator implements a carbon monitoring plan with trained personnel on data collection and filed activities. They then calculate the carbon offset generation for each participating farm and create an annual monitoring report. Finally, PICA contracts and coordinates the verification process with a VCS-approved registry to identify potential buyers of the Verified Emission Reductions produced through the project.