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Ecotrust and Plan Vivo Respond to BBC’s “The Carbon Offset Trap”

On April 2nd, BBC Radio 4 put out a story entitled “The Carbon Offset Trap,” which we’re posting here alongside the below responses from Ecotrust Uganda and The Plan Vivo Foundation.

Ecotrust – Response to BBC The Carbon Offset Trap – 4.3.25Download
Plan Vivo – Response to BBC The Carbon Offset Trap – 3.26.25Download

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How Your Offsetting Changes Lives

Ani Matamosi is a beekeeper in Batiri village, Fiji. Along with around 30 other fabulous women from eight mataqali in the Drawa Rainforest Carbon Project, she is running a honey business, set up with income from carbon credits. "We women are really happy about this beekeeping business because for some of us, only our husband earns money and beekeeping has enabled us to earn money ... we learn not only to take care of bees but also to be business minded. It has boosted our confidence and self-esteem to engage more in income generating activities, so we want to keep our business alive."

Ani Matamosi

Along with around 30 other fabulous women from eight mataqali (clans) in the Drawa Rainforest Carbon Project, Ani is running a honey business in Batiri village, Fiji, set up with income from carbon credits.

Ani says "We women are really happy about this beekeeping business because for some of us, only our husband earns money and beekeeping has enabled us to earn money ... we learn not only to take care of bees but also to be business minded. It has boosted our confidence and self-esteem to engage more in income generating activities, so we want to keep our business alive."

Staluzi and Gerald Muhindo

Staluzi and Gerald Muhindo

Country: Uganda
Village: Maliba
Trees Planted: 400
Climate Benefit: 203.4 tonnes of CO2
Earnings as of 3/13/18: $485.92
Total Expected Earnings: $607.40
Livelihood Benefits: House construction, school fees.

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In 2012, Oliva became a participant of Ecotrust Uganda’s Trees for Global Benefits project. She lives in the Maliba community of Western Uganda’s Kasese district, and she’s planted 400 trees which are sequestering an estimated 203.4 tonnes of CO2. Oliva is projected to earn $610.40 from TGB. In this interview, you’ll learn how she uses those earnings, as well as about her children and grandchildren, one of her favorite ways to relax, what “MIFA” stands for, how she lost some of her trees, and how her community views firewood thieves!

Oliva Nyirazuba

Country: Uganda
Village: Maliba
Trees Planted: 400
Climate Benefit: 203.4 tonnes of CO2
Earnings as of 3/13/18: $186.18
Total Expected Earnings: $610.40
Livelihood Benefits: School fees for children.

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Beatrice Ahimbisibwe

Beatrice Ahimbisibwe
Country: Uganda
Community: Bitereko
Trees Planted: 1,400
Total Earnings To Date: $1,831
Livelihood Benefits: New house, furniture, children's school fees, invested in building a new school

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Anastazia Solomon

Anastazia Solomon
Country: Malawi
Village: Mkokamwendo
Trees Planted: 467 over 1 ha & 800-meters boundary plantings
Climate Benefit: 193 tonnes of CO2
Earnings To Date: $360
Total Expected Earnings: $600
Livelihood Benefits: Children's school fees, home improvements, pig farming

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Musingo Mikhaya

Musingo Mikhaya
Country: Uganda
Village: Bukusu
Trees Planted: 330
Climate Benefit: 178.4 tonnes of CO2
Earnings To Date: $142
Total Expected Earnings: $472
Livelihood Benefits: Healthcare costs, children's school fees, supported livestock farming, transport of farm produce to markets

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Marcelino Arostegui Mendosa

Marcelino Arostegui Mendosa
Country: Nicaragua
Community: Morcillo
Trees Planted: 2,917
Total Earnings To Date: $446.24
Total Expected Earnings: $1,711.13
Livelihood Benefits: Tools for farm repairs, extra food and supplies, fuelwood

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Maria Elisa Gonzales

Maria Elisa Gonzales
Country: Nicaragua
Community: La Grecia
Trees Planted: 3,167
Total Earnings To Date: $754.22
Total Expected Earnings: $2,026.69
Livelihood Benefits: Food, clothing, children's school supplies

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Daniel Mukhwana

Daniel Mukhwana
Country: Uganda
Village: Bumbo
Trees Planted: 799 via dispersed interplantings over 4 hectares
Climate Benefit: 475.6 tonnes of CO2
Earnings To Date: $378
Total Expected Earnings: $1260
Livelihood Benefits: Children's school fees, improved soil quality, shade for coffee crop

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Dorothy Nthala

Dorothy Nthala
Country: Malawi
Village: Tchale
Trees Planted: 600 over 1800-meters boundary plantings
Climate Benefit: 147 tonnes of CO2
Earnings To Date: $381
Total Expected Earnings: $685
Livelihood Benefits: Corrugated iron roof for her house, improved soil fertility, fuel wood, poles for tobacco curing sheds

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Maate Zaverio

Maate Zaverio
Country: Uganda
Village: Maliba
Trees Planted: 800
Climate Benefit: 406.8 tonnes of CO2
Earnings as of 3/13/18: $976.60
Total Expected Earnings: $1,220.80
Livelihood Benefits: School fees for children, medical bills.

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Beatrice Tibamwenda

Beatrice Tibamwenda
Country: Uganda
Village: Rubirizi
Trees Planted: 400
Climate Benefit: 203.4 tonnes of CO2
Earnings as of 3/9/18: $304.60
Total Expected Earnings: $610.40
Livelihood Benefits: School fees for grandchildren, medical bills for children.

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Winfred Musimenta

Winfred Musimenta
Country: Uganda
Village: Kichwamba
Trees Planted: 480
Climate Benefit: 203.4 tonnes of CO2
Earnings To Date: $427
Total Expected Earnings: $610.40
Livelihood Benefits: Student nutrition from crop trees including mango, avocado, and jackfruit. Shade.

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