In this project, hill farmers - who live in the upper catchment (3000m) of the coffee growing area in Piura -
reforest the region. This reduces erosion and improves the water storing capacity that benefits coffee farmers downstream. Also, they improve their livelihoods by creating a wood based economy through sustainable forest management. Furthermore, the trees planted sequester CO₂ at an average of 22 kilos per tree per year.
Rural development and agriculture in the Piura region in Peru are highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Due to deforestation in the upper regions of Sierra Piura, the downstream coffee farms are affected by erosion and productivity decrease. These farms are in the hands of smallholder coffee farmers with less than 3 hectares each. Like most smallholders worldwide, these farmers have little financial capacity to make investments in their farms nor in their environment.
In 2011, coffee cooperative Norandino and Progreso Foundation started a reforestation program in close cooperation with 11 farmer communities (appr. 400 families) who live in the upper catchment of the coffee growing area. In total, over 200 hectares of forest has been planted. This reforestation program is the first of its kind to be certified by Gold Standard and Fairtrade Climate Standard.
Thanks to the carbon credit payment scheme, a sustainable reforestation program, a capacity building program and an employment program for farming families have been developed. Additional activities are also being financed by carbon credits, such as the construction of fish ponds, vegetable gardens and mushroom farms that help create a varied diet for farmers’ families. Finally, investments (through revenue sharing) are made in adaptation measures for the downstream coffee farms, like enrichment planting with shade trees and improved pruning techniques. In this way, coffee production systems become more sustainable, more productive and generate higher-quality coffee.
Due to the needs of the communities in the upper catchment, FairClimateFund and Norandino have set up a joint ambition to realize another 500 hectares of forest in the
coming 5 years.
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and contribute to better living conditions for people in developing countries.
1. No poverty
