Rainforest protection in central Brazil: Print A Tree Project

Context

The Amazon rainforest, located in the Brazilian part of the Amazon basin, is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet and is home to an estimated 10% of all known terrestrial species. Spanning a total of 490 million hectares, it has been referred to as “the lungs of the world” for many years due to its essential role in providing oxygen throughout the planet.

Tragically, however, this vital ecosystem has been threatened significantly over recent decades. Between 1975 and 2018, an astonishing 20% of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest was lost due to clear-cutting for agricultural activities such as cattle ranching and soybean production, oil and gas extraction and processing, timber logging operations, related transportation networks, large-scale infrastructure projects, and other development initiatives.

The destruction of such a large portion of this natural habitat has had extensive implications for global environmental health. There are now fewer trees available to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – thus contributing to global warming and climate change – while at the same time, less rainfall is produced as a result of deforestation which leads to prolonged droughts that can damage soil fertility levels. In addition, destroying this primary tropical rainforest also removes millions of species from their natural habitats, which can lead to catastrophic consequences for global biodiversity levels.

Given these pressing ecological concerns intertwined with our own future well-being, it is more important than ever before that we begin taking serious action against deforestation to protect what remains of these fragile ecosystems. We must work together with local communities and governments around the world in order to manage existing resources sustainably as well as understand how best to restore damaged areas so that we secure our collective future within this rapidly changing world.

Protecting the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest:

The Print A Tree Project and its Impact on Global Environmental Health

The Perseverança Pacutinga Project, located in the Mato Grosso region of Brazil, is a conservation initiative to protect over 70,000 hectares of the Amazon rainforest. This region of the country is part of the ‘deforestation arch’, known for its high levels of deforestation, which have placed immense pressure on ecosystems and biodiversity. As such, this project has become essential to preserving these precious resources and restoring balance to the local environment.

In order to achieve this goal, the project has been undergoing a renewal of its FSC certification and being validated for the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS). In addition to this forestry protection agenda, it also provides co-benefits in the local community, such as technical training courses, women’s empowerment workshops and wildlife monitoring programs. Based on assessments conducted by Sylvera services, it can be stated that it has successfully achieved – and even exceeded – its claimed emissions reduction targets compared to baseline scenarios.

Notably, forest loss rates were considerably lower than expected – an impressive feat showcasing how effective these initiatives can be when implemented correctly. Furthermore, these benefits are not limited to environmental protection; they are also highly beneficial for local communities through job creation and economic opportunities. This socially conscious program contributes significantly towards increased quality of life and sustainable long-term development in areas where human activities threaten scarce resources.

In conclusion, the Perseverança Pacutinga Project is a successful example of how conservation efforts can positively impact ecological integrity and socio-economic well-being. The model serves as a source of inspiration for similar projects worldwide looking to protect their shared natural heritage while simultaneously improving livelihoods in their respective communities.

Verification

This project is verified by the Verified Carbon Standard. You can view it on the Verra Registry here.

Climate solution #38

Forest protection

In their biomass and soil, forests are powerful carbon storehouses. Protection prevents emissions from deforestation, shields that carbon, and enables ongoing carbon sequestration.

For each hectare of forest protected, the threat of deforestation and degradation is removed. By protecting an additional 335-466 million hectares of forest, this solution could avoid carbon dioxide emissions totalling 5.5-8.8 gigatons by 2050. Perhaps more importantly, this solution could bring the total protected forest area to almost 0.98-1.1 billion hectares, securing an estimated protected stock of 179-203 gigatons of carbon, roughly equivalent to over 655-743 gigatons of carbon dioxide if released into the atmosphere.

The benefits of forest conservation include biodiversity protection, non-timber products, erosion control, pollination, ecotourism and other ecosystem services.

From drawdown.org

Photos

The photos below have been shared by our partners at Ecologi. All rights are reserved.

UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:

Pacajai REDD+ Avoided Unplanned Deforestation

As a Black Label UK customer, you automatically donate towards our Print A Tree Project through any purchase you make with us. Your money supports projects in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Here are the goals recognised by the Pacajai REDD+ Avoided Unplanned Deforestation project:

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