CommuniTree,
Nicaragua
CommuniTree is now the biggest project for tropical reforestation in Nicaragua. It combines farmer driven project design and innovative monitoring technology to create forests that last.
C Level Carbon Balanced projects are all verified under the global Plan Vivo Standard, the world's original community carbon standard.
PROJECT STATUS:
STATUS:
VISION : LIVE : SCALING
- 100%
FOUNDERS:
Kahlil Baker
PARTNERS:
Taking Root
KEY SUPPORTERS:
C Level, Microsoft, Springer Nature
tCO2 sequestered since 2010
Species:
Over 100 indigenous tree species including Pacific Mahogany, Spiny Cedar and Orimba
location:
PROJECT Overview
CommuniTree has grown from a bold vision explained to us over a phone call ten years ago, to Nicaragua’s biggest reforestation programme. It helps farming families to grow native tree species and build forest-based enterprises on deforested land, creating long term sustainable livelihoods. A certified Plan Vivo project and a model for best-practice reforestation around the world.
Under Plan Vivo, the project is designed to make sure that farmers who grow the trees on their land get more value from reforesting their land than deforesting it. This approach combined with Taking Root’s unique technology platform made up of Taking Root’s mobile app and web app means every farm reforested stays reforested. This global platform combines satellite imagery and on the ground monitoring from the team of project workers. Using predictive algorithms, monitoring data and the world’s biggest database of carbon sequestration rates for forest trees, it is now providing unparalleled transparency and confidence in the project’s environmental and social impacts.
CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
CBC’s hour long feature documentary charts the CommuniTree project as it evolves from a vision to Nicaragua’s biggest reforestation programme. Filmed in Canada and on location in Nicaragua, the film team follow the journey through the eyes of Kahlil Baker, project co-founder.
ACTION
Deforestation
Rising to the challenge of deforestation, long-term reforestation can only work when the people who live and work with the land understand and get value from the trees they plant. CommuniTree creates long term incentives and provides extensive training so farmers earn more from reforesting their land.
Ecosystem Regeneration
CommuniTree creates thriving native forests on previously used land. Planting designs include over 100 native tree species to grow forests which both store carbon and enhance biodiversity. Soils are protected and flooding is reduced as forest cover returns to the watersheds. Micro-climate improves helping farmers’ yields.
Improving Farmer Incomes
Smallholder farmers are particularly susceptible to changes in climate. Late rains flooding and the catastrophic hurricanes that have struck Nicaragua in 2020, can damage a whole season’s crop. Earnings are on average less than $2 a day, so farmers are particularly vulnerable to loss of income. CommuniTree not only creates forests which protect areas from extreme weather events but also provides security for smallholder farmers through higher and more reliable incomes. 2021 saw $3,135,675 paid to communities from the sale of carbon credits. Families who are essential in addressing the climate crisis.
Project Impact
Hectares of forest
tonnes CO2 benefit
The project continues to seek support from companies who are carefully looking for the world’s best natural climate solutions, including Springer Nature and Microsoft.
Families Engaged
More smallholder farmers begin to identify the long term benefits of reforestation over farming/deforestation through the project’s intervention.
Jobs created
Over 30 full time project staff are employed on the ground, thousands of farmers and their families are employed each year.
Tree Nurseries
Seeds are harvested from indigenous trees. These need to be transported, stored in the right way, and then planted out in one of the hundreds of tree nurseries created across the region.
trees planted
ACCELERATE THE RESTORATION OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS!
Taking Root’s unique technology platform unlocks access to the carbon market for smallholder farmers. Their integrated mobile and web platform and dedicated support team make it easier to design, manage, track and scale forest carbon projects with smallholder farmers. This exceptional achievement is enabling other projects to scale using the same methodologies, attracting interest and support from around the world.
C Level projects are all verified under the global Plan Vivo Standard, the world’s original community carbon standard.
What people say
“Taking Root’s technology platform is super exciting. Automating forest growth and carbon tracking brings down reporting and verification costs while giving those who fund the project unparalleled transparency on impacts.”
Eva Schoof, Programme Manager, Plan Vivo Foundation