Climate Change Mitigation By Planting Mahogany Trees
Project Developer
- Agroforestven
Size
- Large
- (517500)
Maturity stage
- Mature for investment
Country
- Venezuela
Financing mechanism
Contact
Oscar Jaimes
agroforestven@gmail.com
Link
Environmental benefits
To save three endangered South American Mahogany tree species called Swietenia macrophylla, Swietenia mahagoni and Swietenia humilis that are difficult to establish after planting due to the their requirements to grow in soils containing certain microbiota, high organic content and soil humidity. In addition to the goal of saving threatened Mahogany tree species, at least 134.61 pounds of Carbon per tree per year will be captured from the atmosphere mitigating this way climate change in the area. An increase of the annual rainfall rate in the reforested sites, recharge of aquifers, conservation of local biodiversity, and the recovery of adjacent rivers’ flow are also expected.
Community benefits
Agroforestven would hire members of the community “Los Toros II” located in the Portuguesa state of Venezuela for tree nursery establishment and tree planting activities. The community will be organized by the company in groups of 50 people that will attend free monthly seminars on the importance of tree conservation to minimize climate change and increase the community’s livelihood. This community is characterized by low income, high unemployment rate and is affected by climate change consequences as drought. Drought intensity in the area nowadays is higher compared to previous years, when there were more trees and rains were more often.
Business model
Agroforestven considers three sites In Venezuela, where trees can be planted. The first site belongs to protected areas of the farm run by the company in the Municipality of Guanare (Portuguesa state of Venezuela). The second target site for planting Mahogany trees consists of protected areas of adjacent farms. Finally, the third site consists of both sides of field roads in rural areas of the Portuguesa state.
The annual budget of the Project consists of 103,500 US$, and involves the hiring of 4 field workers and 1 manager, is enough for the production of 96,000 Swietenia trees per year, which would involve capturing 12,922,560 pounds (or ~5,861,575 Kg) of Carbon annually. The company Agroforestven would like to work on this Project for at least five (5) years with a budget of 517,500 US$, to produce 480,000 Swietenia trees, capture 64,612,800 pounds of Carbon (or ~29,307,875 Kg) and reforest 432 hectares of land. Working on this project for at least five years would guarantee the conservation of the three endangered tree species at least in Venezuela.