Owners of Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro forests prepare project to obtain carbon credits.

Four carbon inventories have been carried out in Chiriquí and Bocas del Toro using 20 x 50 m plots. The inventories allow us to know how much carbon these forests store. Carbon that, in case of being released into the atmosphere (by deforestation, fires), would merge with Oxygen, resulting in the fearsome CO2 (carbon dioxide), one of the main Greenhouse Gases (GHG), one of the main causes of Climate Change.

To prevent this from happening, large companies, international financial agencies, and international foundations are willing to "compensate" the efforts of forest owners who are committed to their conservation, with the delivery of carbon credits which are sold in the Voluntary Market of Carbon, a totally private compensation mechanism.

This requires the rigorous preparation of a carbon project, which will be audited by an international company, which will be responsible for accepting (or rejecting) the study carried out. If the internal auditor gives the "go", then the owners can receive the bonds, and not before.

The owners who participate in Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro, now add an extension of 1,241 hectares. and 2, 048.94 Mts. of reductase of primary and secondary forests in a zone of life characterized by the Very Humid Tropical Forest (bmh-T), with an average annual precipitation of 4,000 mm. and heights higher than 1,900 meters. These are primary forests, with huge trees in a habitat rich in flora and fauna.

The samplings were carried out in 4 sites (see attached map):

One in the Province of Bocas del Toro, Admiral District, Corregimiento de Nance de Riscó, Community of Uri, on the property of Paulino Castrillón,

Two in the Province of Chiriquí, District of Bugaba, Corregimiento de Volcán, Community of Cotito, in the properties of Cruz Mojica, and Gabriel Mojica.

Finally, another in the Province of Chiriqui, District of Boquete, Los Naranjos Township, a community of Bajo Mono on the property of Ronnie Pitti.

The technical file is currently prepared so that the Spanish validation company AENOR, proceed to the corresponding certification.

Do you want to participate as a partner in this project? Communicate to the email erasmo.proyectocarbono@gmail.com

COMMUNITY EMBERA -WOUNAAN IS INCORPORATED TO THE NATIONAL CARBON PROJECT

Arimae is an indigenous Panamanian community that incorporates two distinct cultures: Embera and Wounaan. It is located in the Collective Lands of Arimae / Embera Puru, 210 kilometers from the capital city, oriented to the edge of the Pan-American Highway, to the Northeast of Panama. In administrative terms, it is part of the Corregimiento of Santa Fe, District of Chepigana, Province of Darién.

On December 10, 2015, after 40 years of fighting, the 1,300 inhabitants (220 families) of Arimae and Emberá Puru received the title of their collective lands, by the National Land Administration Authority (ANATI). It is 8,191 hectares, of which 4,000 ha are estimated. correspond to primary forest.

Considering the favorable conditions created with the granting of title to the collective lands, the Local Congress of the Community of Arimae, of Emberá-Wounaan Collective Lands, agreed to design and implement, with the support of APRONAD, the "Climate Project, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) for the Voluntary Carbon Market (MVC) ".

The Agreement establishes "... prepare the technical, legal and administrative documentation necessary to register a Project according to the CCBA methodology, in the VCS Standard (Verified Carbon Standard), using at all times the principle of prior, free and informed consultation and the participatory techniques of Popular Education ". The decision was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the Local Congress of the Community of Arimae.

The noted biologist Heraclio Herrera held a participatory community workshop, to identify on a map drawn up by the participants, the key aspects related to forest conservation and threatened wildlife. In addition, the alternatives for self-managed community development were analyzed. All this with a view to the income that will be generated by the sale of carbon credits.

Do you want to participate as a partner in this project? Communicate to the email erasmo.proyectocarbono@gmail.com.

The PRO CARBONO Association Panama is a non - profit association, of character and private law, based in the city of Panama. It associates landowners with important forest resources, indigenous organizations, and Grassroots Community Organizations (CBO) who are concerned about conserving forests and obtaining economic benefits through different forms of economic compensation for environmental services.

Meeting with forest owners in Bocas del Toro and Chiriqui

The organization was created to ensure its member's economic support, technical assistance, training, and marketing support, in their task of conservation of forest resources and obtaining economic benefits through the sale of carbon credits, mainly in the Voluntary Market of Carbon (VMC).

Presentation of carbon inventory results in Los Santos and Veraguas

The participation of the associates will facilitate that the country has an organized social force, committed to the conservation of forests, at a time when deforestation threatens to cause desertification in different regions of the national territory. The members of the PRO - CARBONO Panama Association have extensive experience in the conservation of forest resources.

The women's participation also participates in the estimates of the
WTP of the trees. Palmas Bellas Arriba, Panama east.

APROCARBONO expects to offer 3 million carbon credits to the International Financial Agencies that participate in the Green Climate Fund. Foundations and International Non-Governmental Organizations. Mainly, foreign national and foreign companies interested in exercising environmental leadership, participating in the fight against climate change. In short, companies would add value to the brand by committing to offset the emission of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) through the purchase of carbon credits. With the purchase of carbon credits, companies want to effectively communicate with to their final public the contribution they are making to save the planet.

By boat to the forest that will be inventoried

With the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, three million years ago, Panama became a road that allowed the migration of many species of animals and plants from North America to South America, and vice versa. The bridge made it easier for animals and plants to migrate between the two continents. This event is known as Great American Exchange.

Therefore, with the purchase of carbon credits from Aprocarbono, not only does it help to avoid the emission of GHG emissions. We work so that private forest owners and communities can conserve a unique biodiversity on the planet.

Towards the mountain: owners and technical staff in
 La Pintada, Coclé.

Benefits for buyers of APROCARBONO bonds:

• They avoid GHG emissions, contributing to position themselves as environmental leaders in the scope of Panama and Latin America.

• They will contribute to improving the socioeconomic conditions of poor rural communities located in the environment of primary and secondary forests. With the income generated by the sale of carbon, owners can offer employment in the tasks of conservation and sustainable management of forests (Corporate Social Responsibility CSR).

• The income generated from the sale of carbon credits will allow forest owners and nearby communities to develop initiatives for the conservation of local species and ecosystems, such as zoo breeding and nurseries of forest varieties with species in danger of extinction are found with some degree of threat or in danger of extinction.

• The purchase of bonds will also help finance the conservation of water resources through the conservation of forests.

To contact us you can write to apronad2@gmail.com