In 2024 donations to onboard.earth’s Trees+ programme went to several environmental restoration partners including the brilliant CommuniTree Forestry Project Nicaragua, a Plan Vivo Carbon Programme and Nicaragua’s largest reforestation project, which forms the carbon offset element of the Trees+ programme.
Forest restoration is only successful when you put people first. In Nicaragua, the CommuniTree Carbon Program embodies this ethos. It demonstrates how when farmers benefit from trees, they have the incentive to keep growing them, restoring ecosystems and removing carbon from the atmosphere. In a country marked by widespread forest degradation, CommuniTree continues to push the boundaries of what can be achieved with smallholder farmers, showing that forest restoration at scale is possible while benefiting the communities who need it the most.
The Project helps to improve the livelihoods of farmers who would typically earn less than $2 a day, whilst contributing to combatting climate change through carbon storage in around 3,000 hectares of forests. In addition to the carbon offset credits, they plant 1 trees per tonne of CO₂e offset and are an official partner of Eden: People+Planet (formerly Eden Reforestation Projects), who plant trees to improve livelihoods.
How the project works:
Carbon Sequestration: The project works by encouraging farmers to grow trees on previously unused space on their land. As the trees grow, they sequester carbon, and the farmers are given incentive payments for this, increasing their income and quality of life.
Stable income creation: The CommuniTree project creates seasonal jobs related to the forestry such as building plant nurseries and farmers are also able to sell their products which help improve income annd a stability for the communities.
Sustainable energy: The project has developed a biochar reactor, using waste wood which provides the community with access to a more sustainable energy source compared to traditional charcoal burning.
Key Impacts: Benefits of the CommuniTree Carbon Offset Project
- Over 6 million trees from 100 native species planted so far, increasing the forest cover in Nicaragua, storing over 900,000 tonnes of CO2 and increased wildlife habitats and restored ecosystems
- Improved income stability and job opportunities for 855 farmers, their families, and communities
- Around 2000 seasonal jobs per year
- Year-round ability to sell forestry products such as coffee, which is grown alongside the trees.
- Community education on the impacts of climate change, environmental laws, and sustainable farming
- More than 60% of the programme’s income goes to the farmers.
Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals
The CommuniTree forestry carbon offsetting project is aligned with 10 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
- UN SDG 1 – No Poverty
- UN SDG 4 – Quality Education
- UN SDG 5 – Gender Equality
- UN SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
- UN SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
- UN SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- UN SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- UN SDG 13 – Climate Action
- UN SDG 15 – Life on Land
- UN SDG 17 – Partnership for the Goals
