Project Description
The project promotes forest conservation and recovery, focused mainly on conserving native forest through its protection and the avoidance of deforestation drivers
The project area (53,528 ha) is in a critical region of the eastern Amazon biome which is at high deforestation risk
The project’s goal is to prove the economic feasibility of preserving forest in regions already heavily degraded and where it is still considered socially acceptable to convert forest to agriculture
Prior to the project, the land was degraded forest. The surrounding forest areas are still in a high threat situation with illegal loggers commonly operating in and around the project area
Agriculture, mining and timber industry were the major drivers for deforestation of native forest lands in the region. Bauxite mining was the main factor for floating population in and around Paragominas
Sustainability Beyond Carbon
Sustainability co-benefits, beyond the carbon, of this project include:
The project builds the capacity and skills of local communities and helps create additional economic options for them in a region where there are few job opportunities
It has generated full time employment plus provides training and access for the families that live in and around the project area
The project has provided cook stoves with chimneys for the local population to help improve fuel use efficiency and to mitigate lung related diseases, which is the most common disease in the surrounding area due to poor cooking methods
The project conducts training on sustainable land use practices like agroforestry in order to conserve the native forest and increase tree cover
The project’s implementation has strengthened governance and forest management frameworks in line with their traditional land management techniques and customs
The project is intensifying and improving its practices to support sustainable social development, while maintaining and improving biodiversity monitoring in the project area within the framework of FSC certification and REDD activities
The project has created animal corridors, maintains forest cover and reduces habitat fragmentation, helping the conservation of threatened animal and plant species
The project has employed local people as security guards helping with the forest’s protection
