The Return to Forest Project

Location: Rivas and Granada Provinces, Southwestern Nicaragua
Project type: Reforestation Project
Standard: Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction
Verification/Validation: Rainforest Alliance

Environmental Benefits

Mitigate climate change
Restore habitat
Revitalize endangered/threatened species such as the Yellow-Naped Parrot and Central American Spider Monkey
Improve local water quality
Retain top soil and control erosion

Community Benefits

Establish alternative sources of income and employment opportunities including three local tree nurseries, and planting fruit trees
Potential for local ecotourism benefiting the area population

Project Description

The Return to Forest Project is a partnership between Carbonfund.org and Paso Pacifico with the goal of reconnecting critical biological corridors on the southwestern coast of Nicaragua, while benefitting local communities and sequestering over 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. Forest-based projects are beneficial not only for the local communities and the variety of ecosystem services they provide, but forests also sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. In addition, the Return to Forest project was one of the first projects to be validated to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards with Gold Distinction.