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CanopyCo plant native trees to carbon offset
Added: (Thu Mar 20 2008)
CanopyCo, a newly formed Ecuadorian organization, planted their first 500 native trees to carbon offset clients’ emissions primarily for travel to and within Ecuador. The tree planting exercise forms part of a wider scope of work that will include research, environmental education, alternative energy and the promotion of sustainable agriculture techniques, all focussed on reducing the negative effects of climate change.
The reforestation took place on Saturday 15th March in a small community in Imbabura, northern Ecuador, through community participation (locally known as a minga) and the help of Global Works Volunteers visiting Ecuador for Spring Break. Speaking about local climate change, Jose Manuel Cabascango of the community recognized the benefits of the work as he remembered “just 5 years ago the climate on the parámo (above the forests) used to be really cold, and required wearing ponchos: Now you can go in only a shirt”.
This first project aims to replenish areas of native forest, whilst recuperating biodiversity and linking the community with one of the last remnants of high altitude Andean forest in Ecuador. This will help serve the climate, the community for eco tourism (a project underway and directed by the NGO Inter-American CASA) and equally help increase watersheds for the local area.
CanopyCo was founded in November 2007 and is establishing carbon offset projects focussed on planting native trees in designated areas for the benefit of the local community, Ecuador’s flora and fauna, and the global climate.
If you would like more information about this topic please write to
CanopyCo: Stuart Franklin at info@canopyco.org or call on +593 (0)85 987384.
Inter-American CASA: Peter Shear at info@casainteram.org or call on +593 (0)86 849950
Global Works: Fritz Moriarty at groups@globalworkstravel.com or call +1 303.545.2202