COTAP.org – Carbon Offsets To Alleviate Poverty

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Yosamu Muhindo joined our partner Ecotrust Uganda’s Trees for Global Benefits (TGB) community reforestation project in 2012. Tragically, Yosamu passed away in 2017 and now Staluzi and Gerald, his widow and one of their four children, now look after the trees that he planted.

In the carbon offsets world, “permanence” of CO2 removals is a vital aspect of project design. With tree planting projects, it’s important to ensure that participants prove ownership of the land that the trees are planted on, and that the trees planted for carbon income enhance livelihoods and don’t compete with food security. In multiple previous farmer interviews, we’ve heard participants allude to how they plan to pass on their trees to their children. In this interview, we see an instance of where that’s actually happened.

In this interview, you’ll learn about their secret to achieving a 100% seedling survival rate and how they’ve used their direct carbon offset income. You’ll also hear their suggestion that the project should consider providing solar panels upfront and deduct the cost from their carbon income. Lastly, you’ll learn what Staluzi’s favorite food is!

Learn more about the Trees for Global Benefits project at https://COTAP.org/Uganda.

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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!

Learn more about the Trees for Global Benefits project at https://COTAP.org/Uganda.

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Flora and Peter became participants of Ecotrust Uganda’s Trees for Global Benefits project in 2011. Three of their siblings are also TGB participants.

Flora and Peter both live in Bugoye, in the Kasese district of Western Uganda.

They’ve each planted and care for 400 trees which are sequestering an estimated 406.8 tonnes of CO2 and they are projected to earn $1,217.80 between the two of them.

Check out their interviews to learn about their tree-planting “sibling rivalry” and hear how Peter’s earnings helped him send his son to driving school!

Learn more about the Trees for Global Benefits project at https://COTAP.org/Uganda.

Offset your CO2 emissions through this project here:

In 2012, Maate Zaverio became a participant of Ecotrust Uganda’s Trees for Global Benefits project. Maate, who lived in the Maliba subdistrict of Kasese, planted 800 trees which are sequestering 406.8 tonnes of CO2 and will result in $1,220.80 in earnings.

The father of 21 children, Maate used some of his earnings to pay school fees and some to treat his chest sickness and other ailments. Maate also shared a very interesting observation which we also heard from several other participants: after planting trees he started getting better weather and more rain.

When asked, “What is your message to supporters of this project?” Maate responds. “Me, I thank you for giving us money. Because you are the people giving us jobs to do trees… We will see what we can do with it.”

After Maate passed away in October 2019, his son Ezira Mukulhameno started looking after the trees.

Learn more about the Trees for Global Benefits project at https://COTAP.org/Uganda.

Offset your CO2 emissions through this project here:

Beatrice was one of the first interviews from COTAP’s visit to Ecotrust Uganda’s Trees for Global Benefits project. Since 2012, Beatrice has planted 400 trees which sequester 203.4 tonnes of CO2 and will earn her a total of $610.40. “Since I planted trees, it has changed my life,” Beatrice says. She also explains an interesting and unexpected side effect of the TGB project – how it brings people together and enhances their social lives. Rural community members like Beatrice are often spread out over large areas and, before TGB, did not have as many opportunities to meet and get to know one another.

Learn more about the Trees for Global Benefits project at https://COTAP.org/Uganda.