This Place is Nuts

The project creates an association of families to provide collective price bargaining power, establish new markets for products, and create operational economies of scale for their product – all while protecting the forest that provides their livelihood. Not only are farmers now encouraged to report suspicious activity, but they have the resources to do so.  This unique partnership benefits the long-term sustainability of Brazil nut harvesting as a livelihood while also guaranteeing long-term protection of the forest.

Project Type: Avoided Nature Loss REDD+

Carbon Standard: Verra

Vintage: 2017-2020

Additionality: Without income from the sale of carbon credits, it would be impossible to protect these lands from the threat of higher value alternative land-use practices that would result in higher emissions.

Permanence: A 20% buffer pool of credits has been set aside based on the AFOLU tool for Risk of Non permanence.

Site Visit: 2022

It is estimated that that in the absence of the project, the area would suffer deforestation at a rate of about 1.23% per year. Over its 291,000 hectares of land this would equal deforestation of approximately 34% of the project area over 31 years. This project is committed to reduce deforestation while implementing a socio-environmental management plan that will also contribute to the economic development of the Brazil nut concessionaires.

Brazil nut sales represents the main source of income for rural families and is a source of employment for around 1/3 of total population. The income from carbon has permitted creation of a brazil nut cooperative organization that can process and sell nuts more efficiently and at higher prices.

• Promote formalization of an organization of Brazil nut harvesters.
• Promote best practices to harvest, dry, manage and transform Brazil nuts by teaching new technologies, enhancing ongoing training, and promoting the use of modern machinery and equipment.
• Foster the conservation and afforestation of Brazil nut forests, improving their density, fighting against logging and avoiding forest fires.
• Foster the protection and defense of local Brazil nut growers against the illegal importation of Brazil nuts and unfair pricing practices.
• Train participants in forestry management and use of the Alert system to identify illegal activity and report it.

• Planned project activities have been delayed due to insufficient income from the sale of carbon.