To ensure that we meet our long-term commitment to your offset we take several measures.

First, 20% of the total CO2 projected to be sequestered in each reforestation is withheld as a project self-insurance buffer. The CO2 in this buffer will be used to compensate for any loss due to fire, plague or any other unforeseen reasons for insufficient carbon capture in any reforestation.

Secondly, the project utilizes reforestations that are seldom contiguous and that are located in different parts of the Reserve and its area of influence. As a result, forest fires, tree diseases and pests and local extreme weather events such as hurricanes are unlikely to affect a significant proportion of the project area.

Thirdly, participants must enter into long-term (30-year) contracts committing to management of their reforestations for carbon sequestration. Payments are scheduled at regular intervals throughout the 30-year project and are contingent upon participants complying with management activities.  Contracts with participants specifically list vigilance of reforestations as one of the required management activities on the part of the participants and include requirements for replanting in the case of unexpected tree loss.  To demonstrate long-term ownership of land, participants must hold title to the land on which the reforestations are located, obtain certificates of legitimate possession issued by the corresponding municipality or, in the case of community-owned lands, obtain official authorization from the community’s governing entity.

Finally, the organizations of the Sierra Gorda Consortium operate long-term successful programs of enforcement of environmental laws and regulations as well as environmental education with substantial community involvement that have resulted in the elimination of significant illegal logging in the area.

After the 30-year contracts with landowners and landholders have expired, the lands will be subject to forestry laws and regulations that only permit clearing or harvesting within reforestations at sustainable levels consistent with protecting the health of the reforestations.

 At the time of an offset agreement landowners enter into a 30 year contract with Bosque Sustentable agreeing to manage their reforestations for optimum carbon sequestration (this includes pruning, and periodic thinning to maximize tree growth) as well as carrying out the necessary monitoring activities.