Located in the Brazilian state of Acre, this project is protecting an area of tropical forest that would have otherwise been converted for lumber harvesting and cattle ranching. The avoided deforestation prevents emissions and maintains critical habitat for wildlife, while improving the livelihoods of communities living in the vicinity.

The Envira Amazonia Project is located in an area of the Southwestern Amazon that is heavily affected by deforestation. The project area is approximately 25 miles away from the city of Feijó, near Brazil’s borders with Peru and Bolivia. 

The Southwestern Amazon is an area of immense biodiversity. More than 20 threatened species and 40 endemic species can be found within this region including woolly monkeys, giant anteaters, spider monkeys, and giant armadillos. 

Along with this abundance of plants and animals, approximately 50 families live within the project area and the surrounding vicinity. These communities are highly dependent on the forest for their livelihoods. Most of the families are former rubber tappers, but these activities ceased when rubber prices crashed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, many families practice subsistence agriculture and raise small animals such as pigs, chickens and ducks. They rely on the forest for food, fuel, building materials, and medicinal plants.  Along with the forest, the nearby Envira, Jurupari, and Purus rivers provide critical services for the families that live in the area. This includes water for drinking and bathing, transportation routes, and food. 

Though communities live within the project area, the land is privately owned. Prior to the project, the land owner planned to clear-cut the forest and establish a large cattle ranch to generate income. Without this project, this conversion would have happened and the subsistence agriculture and small-scale cattle ranching by local families would likely shift to adjacent areas. 

Along with releasing carbon emissions into the air, the conversion of this forest into pasture land would jeopardize the survival of local communities and wipe out local biodiversity. Furthermore, critical functions of these forests, such as flood control, would be lost, and livestock farming could lead to river pollution.

This project is avoiding the deforestation of 39,300 hectares of the Amazon rainforest. Over its initial 10 year crediting period, the project will reduce 12.5 million metric tons of CO2 by maintaining the forest’s existing carbon stocks. 

To ensure the forest remains intact, the land owner signed a voluntary agreement to forgo their planned deforestation activities and enable this conservation project. Specifically, the agreement prohibits the land owner from clearing the forest for logging, ranching, agriculture, road construction, or other purposes. In turn, the land owner receives revenue from the sale of carbon offset credits. These earnings replace the revenues they would have received from the planned logging and cattle ranching activities.

Along with preventing the planned conversion by the land owner, the project is also taking steps to mitigate unplanned deforestation. The project is accomplishing this by addressing the underlying pressures that are driving deforestation in the wider region. Several activities are being implemented to engage families living within and around the project area. A resident who is appreciated by the local community was hired as the project manager. Along with his assistant, he is conducting routine patrols to detect and halt deforestation.

Furthermore, the project is educating residents on improved agricultural techniques that are less destructive and use less land. Courses will be delivered on several key topics including alternatives to the use of fire in land preparation and improved pasture management. To ensure women are able to participate in these trainings, childcare will be provided during the courses.

To provide alternative income sources, the project will equip communities with the knowledge and skills to collect and sell sustainable forest products, such as açaí berries and medicinal plants. As rubber prices have rebounded, the project will also revive the local rubber tapping industry by cultivating rubber trees on deforested land and educating communities on best practices. These alternative economic activities will provide added value for local communities while reducing pressure on the forest. 

The project will also provide additional benefits that improve the living conditions of local communities. This includes building a health and dental clinic, installing community toilets, and distributing hygiene kits and medication. Furthermore, the project will strengthen local land rights by granting families ownership of the land they are already using. Many of the project activities will also boost community resilience to climate change. For instance, the agricultural courses will incorporate climate change adaptation techniques and the new health center will help to mitigate potential increases in mosquito-borne illnesses. 

By implementing this project and its associated social programs, deforestation in the region will be reduced, biodiversity will be preserved, and community livelihoods will be improved.

Located along the Madeira River, this project is protecting a vast area of the Brazilian Amazon that is under imminent threat of deforestation. By improving living conditions and strengthening environmental monitoring and awareness, this project will conserve this critical ecosystem while improving quality of life for local communities.

The Madeira River is one of the Amazon’s largest tributaries. The waterway runs more than 2,000 miles, serving as an important freshwater source and route for transportation in the Brazilian Amazon.

While major transportation routes like the Madeira open up access to more remote areas of the rainforest, this also means that they make deforestation easier. Oftentimes, this results in a fishbone pattern of deforestation, where parallel lines of deforestation occur off a main road.

The Trocano Araretama project is located on the banks of the Madeira in the Municipality of Santo Antônio de Borba. This area is home to an incredible array of animals including 2,500 species of birds and 2,500 species of fish. Howler monkeys, white-nosed sakis, jaguars, and river dolphins are just a few of the species that are found here. 

Unfortunately, this biodiverse region faces severe threats of deforestation. Along with the Madeira River, the area also borders major roadways, leaving it highly susceptible to illegal logging, the expansion of livestock farming and cattle ranching, and other drivers of deforestation. The lack of economic opportunities in the region exacerbate this problem as local communities resort to working for illegal logging companies in order to survive. Between 1991 and 2010, Borba’s population more than doubled, placing further pressure on the region’s precious forest resources. 

Without intervention, it is projected that there will be extensive deforestation in the project area within the next 20 years.

This project is protecting more than one million hectares of the Brazilian Amazon from being lost to deforestation. By conserving this essential ecosystem, the project will ensure that the trees hold their current carbon stores and continue to remove emissions from the atmosphere. 

The project will prevent deforestation and address its root causes through a variety of activities, including:

• Implementing a new, technology-driven monitoring and intervention system against the perpetrators of illegal deforestation.
• Educating local communities on forests to foster environmental appreciation and activism.
• Training and employing local inhabitants in land maintenance and conservation. 
• Providing alternative livelihood opportunities for local people so that they no longer need to engage in illegal logging as a means of survival. In the longer-term, funds will be used to provide micro-loans and develop sustainable ecotourism.
• Training residents on sustainable practices, such as small-scale sustainable agricultural practices that avoid the devastation caused by slash and burn.

The project funds will also be used to create additional benefits for communities and improve local standards of living. As there is currently no waste management in place, proceeds from the project will be used to establish sewage and waste systems. Furthermore, funds from the project will support the improvement of basic services, such as the deployment of mobile health units, distribution of water purification systems and renovation of schools, as well as the provision of professional training.

This project is protecting an area of the Brazilian Amazon that is threatened by deforestation. By increasing the economic value of the standing forest and improving surveillance, the project aims to protect this critical habitat and create better living conditions for local inhabitants.

The endemic center of Belém is an area of immense biodiversity within the Brazilian Amazon. The region is home to more than 450 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet. 

Unfortunately, this part of the Amazon has been severely deforested over the years, leaving the landscape fragmented and degraded. As new roads were constructed in recent decades, they enabled people to penetrate deeper into the forest and the population grew rapidly. This coupled with extreme poverty and weak law enforcement have made the region susceptible to an ongoing cycle of deforestation. Local communities are lured in by the financial incentives offered by illegal loggers and coal producers who are eager to cut down their trees. After the timber resources are depleted, the remaining vegetation is typically burned and cleared to grow crops or graze cattle. Once these pastures and croplands are degraded, more forests are cleared. To date, more than 75% of the region’s forest cover has been compromised. 

The loss of Brazil’s lush rainforest habitat poses a grave risk to species such as the black bearded saki monkeys and Kaapori capuchin monkeys, which are currently in critical danger of extinction. As the forests are stripped bare, their carbon stores are released into the atmosphere which contributes to global climate change.

This project is protecting one of the largest remaining blocks of forest within Belém’s center of endemism. The project aims to keep the forest standing by addressing the main drivers of deforestation in the region. This includes developing alternative economic activities that promote forest conservation, such as harvesting acai berries or other non-wood forest products, and strengthening local producer cooperatives. These new opportunities will provide families with additional income so that they no longer need to resort to illegal logging or charcoal production. The project will also encourage the use of more productive and sustainable farming practices that minimize the need to clear more forest areas. Further efforts to curb illegal timber harvesting include using satellite images to identify possible sources of deforestation. 

Over the next 30 years, the project aims to avoid the deforestation of more than 15,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest.

Mikoko Pamoja is a community-based project that is protecting and restoring mangrove forests along Kenya’s southern coast. By conserving these valuable blue carbon ecosystems and creating livelihood opportunities, the project is fostering marine health and improving the resilience of coastal communities. Funds from carbon offsets support community initiatives that supply clean drinking water, improve schools, and more.

Between 1985 and 2010, about 20% of Kenya’s mangroves were lost. In some peri-urban areas along Kenya’s coast the rate of deforestation was upwards of 70%. This is largely due to over-harvesting since mangrove wood is a cheap and durable building material. Additionally, many families rely on open fires for energy and use mangrove wood as fuel. As the local population continues to rapidly grow, the pressure on Kenya’s remaining mangroves will only intensify. 

Studies show that, pound for pound, mangrove forests sequester four times more carbon than rainforests. Most of this carbon is stored in the soil, but when the mangroves are destroyed it is released into the atmosphere. It is estimated that mangroves account for up to 10% of global deforestation emissions, even though they make up less than 1% of the world’s forests. 

Mangroves are an essential part of marine ecosystems and provide a variety of benefits in addition to storing carbon. The mangroves that grow along Kenya’s coastline serve as important breeding and nursery grounds for fish and other marine species. They also act as a natural buffer between land and sea – filtering pollutants from coastal water, defending communities against storms, and preventing coastal erosion.  

The loss of mangrove habitats has led to declining fish stocks, which are a vital source of income and food for Kenya’s coastal communities. Furthermore, without the protection of mangroves, Kenya’s coastal areas will be at greater risk of erosion, flooding, and other hazards brought on by climate change.

Mikoko Pamoja is a community-based project that is conserving and restoring mangroves in Gazi Bay along Kenya’s southern coast. Mikoko Pamoja means “mangroves together” in Swahili. The project protects 290 acres of mangrove forest by educating locals on their importance, engaging community members in forest monitoring, and strengthening the enforcement of existing regulations. The projects will further discourage the over-harvesting of mangroves by promoting the use of clean energy stoves and establishing community woodlots where locals can source alternative wood products for their construction and fuel needs. 

Along with conserving existing forests, local communities are restoring degraded mangrove sites through reforestation. In 2022, community members came together to plant 1500 mangrove seedlings to help restore the degraded areas of Gazi bay.

The reforested mangroves support coastal biodiversity and enhance the health of connected ecosystems, such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. Their sturdy roots and stems will help stabilize shorelines and prevent sedimentation, leading to better water quality. The newly planted and conserved mangroves will also absorb carbon and store it in their soil and biomass. 

Along with supporting conservation, the projects improve the well-being of the 1,000 people that live in the local villages. Funds generated from carbon offset purchases are channeled into community development initiatives including supplying clean water, renovating schools, and providing books and medication. The project is partnering with other organizations to provide low carbon cookstoves for villagers, as well as creating a plastic waste management system to keep the mangroves clean. They are also looking to pursue income generating opportunities such as beekeeping. Because these economic activities depend on healthy mangroves, they provide a financial incentive to continue with conservation efforts.

This project protects a large swath of rainforest in the Congo Basin by encouraging sustainable agricultural practices and reducing deforestation. By advancing education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, the project also improves the quality of life of local communities.

The Isangi Territory lies at the heart of the Congo River Basin, where the Congo and Lomami Rivers meet. The Congo Basin is home to the world’s second-largest tropical forest. This rich ecosystem teems with biodiversity including 14 types of primates, critically endangered forest elephants, and over 700 species of native trees. Tropical rainforests, such as those in the Isangi Territory, have a tremendous ability to act as carbon sinks. But in order to perform this vital ecological role, these forests must remain standing. 

The forests within the Isangi Territory are also home to more than 30 tribal villages. Poverty is an issue within these communities which struggle due to malnutrition, limited medical care, and sparse educational opportunities.  As the local population grows and food needs increase, forests in the area are under increasing pressure. Large swathes of tropical forest are chopped or burned down, primarily to make way for subsistence agriculture. In addition to losing their habitat, the wildlife species that reside in the forest are also threatened from bushmeat hunting. If existing farming practices continue there will be further deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

This project protects 187,000 hectares of primary rainforest in Isangi Territory. It prevents CO2 emissions by halting logging within the project area and reducing the amount of forest that is converted into farmland. The project helps farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices by teaching them new skills and providing the necessary seeds and resources. These new techniques will enable farmers to produce more crops on their existing land, thus reducing the need to clear additional forest area. Since 2009, 10 million metric tons of CO2e have been sequestered. 

By avoiding deforestation, the project not only mitigates climate change, but also conserves precious rainforest habitat and protects local biodiversity. The project also reduces threats to endangered species by introducing tilapia farming as an alternative to hunting.   

The project helps to alleviate poverty and improve the well-being of the 150,000 people that inhabit the region. Along with supporting food production, the project promotes economic development by creating local jobs and providing funding to new small-scale businesses. The project also supports the education of over 3,000 elementary school students and improves public health practices. 

This wind farm generates enough renewable energy to power over 45,000 homes. By generating clean wind energy, this project reduces the USA’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and avoids harmful CO2 emissions.

Over 80% of the energy used in the USA is generated from fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal and natural gas. The excavation and processing of these fuels can take an enormous toll on landscapes. The pipelines, access roads and other infrastructure that powers the fossil fuel industry can destroy natural habitats and displace communities.  Acidic run-off from coal mining operations can end up in rivers and streams, polluting drinking water and freshwater ecosystems. 

Fossil fuels are burned to create energy to heat and light homes and businesses, and to power a huge number of other appliances. This burning creates a vast amount of carbon dioxide emissions which are trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and increase global warming and climate change.

The Big Smile Wind Farm at Dempsey Ridge is located on more than 7,500 acres of agricultural and grazing land in Oklahoma. Sixty-six wind turbines will deliver enough renewable energy to power more than 46,000 U.S. homes. By generating clean, wind energy, the project reduces reliance on environmentally damaging fossil fuels. Careful steps were taken to minimize the environmental impacts of the wind farm and prevent harm to birds, bats, and natural habitats. 

More than 130 people were employed during the construction phase of the project. The ongoing operation of the wind farm will also create 13 new full-time local jobs. Additionally, the wind farm will provide an additional revenue stream for local farmers who are paid to host the turbines on their property. In addition to the lease agreements with landowners, the project will produce increased revenues for local counties through investments in local infrastructure and property tax revenues.