Rainforest Alliance

Through reforestation of marginal agriculture lands and grazing pastures, this project aims to sequester over 40,000 tCO2e over its 23 year lifetime, protect and improve habitat for native plant and animal species, stabilize the ecosystem functions of the watershed to ensure a steady water supply and offer an alternative source of income for communities located in and around the project site. Native species will be used to restore the forest cover of the Cagayan River watershed in the biodiversity-rich Quirino Protected Landscape, which forms part of the Philippines’ Sierra Madre Biodiversity Corridor. The Corridor as a whole contains over 400 animal species, including the endangered Philippine Eagle and Philippine Crocodile. By transitioning existing plots of corn, banana and upland rice– which are often planted on marginal lands and unnaturally steep slopes – to forest, the project aims to reduce erosion, foster soil and water conservation and help preserve the watershed’s ecosystem functions. Aside from providing employment opportunities in reforestation activities to local community members, the project partners are offering training workshops to help local organizations better manage agricultural lands and access better jobs. Due to benefits like these, the project has been awarded validation to the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Project Designs at the Gold Level, for exceptional community and biodiversity benefits.