Winner of Nature and Biodiversity Project of the Year at the 2022 Edie Sustainability Leaders Awards, this innovative project applies natural soil microbes called mycorrhizae to seedlings in order to improve the health and growth rate of trees planted across degraded lands in Chile.
Carbon finance enables the adoption of the mycorrhizal technology to saplings while they are in nurseries, it also facilitates loans for landowners to do the initial planting. Approximately 6,000 hectares have been planted so far, working with 21 small and medium-sized landowners, who share the net profits from the sale of carbon credits with the project developer.
In consultation with landowners and the Chilean state forestry department, three tree species were selected: Eucalyptus, Pine, and native Quillay Saponaria. To incentivise the continued involvement of landowners through income opportunities from timber, sustainable harvesting takes place 10-20 years after planting, at which point they are replaced with new saplings and the cycle continues.
Mycorrhizae are fungi that grow on trees’ roots and enable plants to absorb additional nutrients and moisture from the soil.
In addition to delivering emissions removals to take climate action (SDG 13), the project delivers additional benefits. The SDG contributions have been measured:
- Decent Work and Economic Growth: Multiple jobs supported in nurseries and forestry operations, as well as the boost to the local economy from extra income for landowners.
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