Restoring Tropical Forests to Mitigate Global Warming

Reforest The Tropics (RTT) is a non-profit organization that establishes reforestation projects in Costa Rica to sequester and store US CO2 emissions.

This 14-acre pasture in Costa Rica is being planted for The Superior Nut Co. of Cambridge, MA to sequester 140 tons of its annual CO2 emissions in a 25-year UNFCCC JI project. 

In the background is a 7 ½-acre, 3 ½-year old carbon-offset forest, also sponsored by Superior. In the RTT Model the forest and its production belong to the farmer, Hac. Las Delicias in this case, while the rights to the registration of the carbon sequestered belongs to RTT in representation of Superior. 

You can join this exciting applied research program by sponsoring a pilot forest for yourself and your family, your school, church or company in a joint project in partnership with RTT and a farmer in Costa Rica.

Each 2 ½-acre forest costs $5,000.  This includes a grant to the farmer for his costs, 4 years of intensive, weekly technical assistance to assure the establishment of each forest, and a set-aside for long-term management.  Your cost is a contribution towards this applied research program, and your donation is deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Each carbon-offset forest has a. 25-year agreement, a sign to identify the sponsor, a GPS map and RTT management

This 9-month old forest was established in the Turrialba Valley in Costa Rica for The Superior Nut Co. of Cambridge, MA.  The owner of the Tournon Farm signed a 25-year contract to sequester carbon for this progressive US company, part of the 53 acres funded by Superior.  This 3-acre forest should sequester annually from 30-36 metric tons of CO2 on the average during the contract at a cost of under $10/ton.  It is managed so that it will also eventually produce wood for the farmer to sell.

Converting tropical pastures back into productive forests could sequester co2 indefinitely

The Superior Nut Co. of Cambridge, MA has contracted 50 acres of forest restoration on farms in Costa Rica to balance its CO2 emissions.  The picture below shows a 3-year old Superior forest that was once a pasture on the Las Delicias Farm in the Atlantic Zone of Costa Rica.