COTAP.org – Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty

Community: San Juan de Limay, Nicaragua
Vintage(s) planted: 2012
Number of trees planted per vintage: 9,565
Total trees planted: 9,565
Earnings to date: $1,263.76
Total earnings (based on successful project): $5,974.20
GIS coordinates of their parcel(s): 537205 UTM East, 1454337 UTM North
Plan Vivo ID: 12.1.039

Preciliano has resided in San Juan de Limay for 30 years. Living with his family of 5, Preciliano is responsible for cultivating the land and working with his cattle.

He is thankful for the opportunity to work with the project because it helps him improve his land and it has helped him financially. Through the project he is able to buy food supplies for his household. He can also afford the tools to plant his trees and keep them healthy, as well as give back to the community by creating employment.

“The project has improved my life because I have learned much about the importance of trees,” says Preciliano. Moreover, he hopes that with more trees the climate will improve.

You can read more about our Limay Community Carbon Project, and support it by offsetting your CO2 footprint to it, at COTAP.org/Limay.

Community:  Tranquera (Limay, Nicaragua)
Vintage(s) planted:  2011
Number of trees planted per vintage:  1,705
Total trees planted:  1,705
Earnings to date:  $278.49
Total earnings (based on successful project):  $1,388.38
GIS coordinates of their parcel(s):  546999 UTM East, 1465324 UTM North
Plan Vivo ID: 11.1.018

Felipe resides in Tranquera with his wife and their two girls, ages 11 and 5. When not working on the reforestation project, he cultivates his land and occasionally works as a day labourer.

A resident of Tranquera all his life, Felipe is thankful for the Limay Community Carbon Project, as no other project like it exists in the area. He is grateful for the employment that it provides to his community, which is “in crisis” financially, he states.

Through his revenue from the project, Felipe was able to buy farm tools, and even a bicycle for transportation around town. Through his interest-free loans, he was able to replace the barbed wire on his farm, which was in poor condition.

He hopes to continue working with the project for a long time and even add more land for reforestation when he inherits his aging father’s property. He hopes that this “unique” project will keep on expanding to benefit many more people.

You can read more about our Limay Community Carbon Project, and support it by offsetting your CO2 footprint to it, at COTAP.org/Limay.

Community: Morcillo (Limay, Nicaragua)
Vintage(s) planted:  2012
Number of trees planted per vintage: 2,917
Total trees planted:  2,917
Earnings to date:  $446.24
Total earnings (based on successful project):  $1,711.13
GIS coordinates of their parcel(s): 544383 UTM East, 1453540 UTM North
Plan Vivo ID: 12.1.030

Marcelino is a farmer who cultivates principally beans, corn, sorghum, and fruits. He has lived in this region for over 20 years with his wife and their two boys.

Before Marcelino started working with the Limay Community Carbon Project, his farm was in disrepair. Now, through the project, Marcelino has bought various tools for his farm and has been able to do the repairs that the farm needed. He is quite grateful for the economic help, which has also allowed him hire his sons and some friends to help him set up his nursery. Lastly, he has been able to buy extra food supplies for himself and his family.

Marcelino is also looking forward to when he can cultivate the firewood from his plantation. His plantation will provide a long-term source of firewood and additional revenue, and will also reduce the pressure on the natural forest around his home.

He believes this project goes much farther than just reforestation; it is about the improving human and environmental ecology of the region. “This is a social project because there is more involvement from the community,” he states. “Also the new forest helps us to prevent future dry spells and desertification.” Marcelino promises to do everything he can do take care of his part of the forest and carry out the requirements of the project.

You can read more about our Limay Community Carbon Project, and support it by offsetting your CO2 footprint to it, at COTAP.org/Limay.

Community:  La Grecia (Limay, Nicaragua)
Vintage(s) planted:  2011
Number of trees planted per vintage:  6,139
Total trees planted:  6,139
Earnings to date:  $963.81
Total earnings (based on successful project):  $3,928.94
GIS coordinates of their parcel(s): 545969 UTM East, 1455213 UTM North
Plan Vivo ID:  11.1.025

Isidoro and his family of 6 moved to the San Juan de Limay region four years ago. They all participate in running the family farm: raising cattle, maintaining the fences, and planting crops.

Isidoro recognizes the positive impact the Limay Community Carbon Project has brought to him and his community. The ecosystem service payments have given him the funds to hire extra hands during the planting season.  His  family is also excited about the environmental and economic benefits that the project has brought to their farm. Isidoro can now see a forest growing!  The project has also enabled them to buy sturdier fences and raise healthier crops.

He hopes that the Limay Community Carbon Project will continue in the region for a long time, as it is such an important source of employment and positive change in the community.  He will stay with the project as long as he lives, and assures that his family will carry on after him.

You can read more about our Limay Community Carbon Project, and support it by offsetting your CO2 footprint to it, at COTAP.org/Limay.