The Monte Pascoal-Pau Brasil Ecological Corridor: Carbon, Community and Biodiversity Initiative
Reforestation
25 acres (11 hectares); projected to impact nearly 2,500 acres (1,000 hectares)
Brazil – Bahia State
Instituto de Conservação Ambiental – The Nature Conservancy do Brasil, Conservation International, Instituto Bioatlântica, Instituto Cidade, Grupo Ambiental Natureza Bela, Associação dos Nativos de Caraíva – ANAC (Association of Native People of Caraíva), Associação Comunitária Beneficente de Nova Caraíva – ASCBENC (Community Association of Nova Caraíva) and Cooperativa de Reflorestadores de Mata Atlântica do Extremo Sul da Bahia – CooPlantar (Atlantic Forest Reforestation Cooperative of the Far South of Bahia)
This project aims to establish a biodiversity corridor that will join two large sections of Atlantic Forest (a global biodiversity hotspot) -- the Pau Brasil National and the Monte Pascoal National Park. Reforestation to restore native ecosystems is the primary project activity, occurring on degraded lands and pasturelands held by private landowners (particularly local cattle ranchers) in the Caraíva river basin that connects the two national parks. Local residents, landowners, and the network of partner organizations involved in the project believe it will benefit affected communities by creating jobs, generating income, and building local knowledge and capacity to conserve and restore forests. In part due to these outstanding benefits to local communities and the projects positive impacts on the Atlantic Forest biodiversity and ecosystem, the project was awarded the coveted "Gold Level" validation to the Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards. 25 acres (11 hectares) have already achieved validation, and over the projects 30-year lifetime it is expected that over 2,470 acres (1,000 hectares) will be reforested.
Validated conformance with the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards 1st Ed., Gold Level: October 22nd, 2009 – October 21st, 2014 (RA-VAL-CCB-011405).