Reforestation of Devastated Land in the Highlands of Peru - Peru

Reforestation of Devastated Land in the Highlands of Peru designs strategies that generate and sell carbon credits to voluntary markets, allowing small-scale farmers to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Fast facts:

Over 7,000 carbon credits have been sold to various companies;
240 hectares of land have been reforested due to purchased credit;
280 small-scale farmers have benefited from this activity.

The problem

Small-scale coffee farmers in Peru are facing issues like degraded landscapes and deforestation, which in turn cause landslides and soil erosion. They are also dealing with a decline in soil fertility and rising temperatures due to climate change.

The solution

This activity asks farmers to commit to protecting trees. These trees are “sold” as carbon credits. Ninety percent of the funds obtained from carbon credits goes directly toward forest activity and ten percent goes directly to the farmers. For example, with these funds, coffee farmers can implement measures in their coffee plantations including modern irrigation systems, building small coffee drying systems, using pest and disease control and training other farmers on the impacts of climate change on coffee production and how to manage it. These measures will increase the farmers overall economic income.

Helping the planet

Reforestation protects soil from erosion and contributes to water quality and conservation. Reforestation can also mitigate carbon emissions.

Helping people

The beneficiaries are small-scale farmers who are integrated in the Choco community, a rural community located in the highlands of Piura Region. These farmers cultivate temporary crops such as corn, wheat and potatoes. The community carries out the reforestation and the farmers are active participants in the process, receiving payment for their labour and their commitment to protecting trees. All decisions are made democratically, both men and women participating equally.

Scaling Up

This activity estimates that the Choco community has around 1,000 hectares available for reforestation which could produce more carbon credits.