Case Studies: Carbon Management
In our joint commitment to providing operational community-based carbon stock management solutions, LTS and the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management have established Plan Vivo, a system for managing the supply of verifiable emission reductions from rural communities in a way that promotes sustainable livelihoods. The Plan Vivo system allows a partnership between companies that wish to reduce their impact on the environment and communities in developing countries that are working to improve their future. Local communities identify activities and submit them in a simple Plan Vivo ("live plan"). A technical team evaluates the carbon offset potential of these activities and registers a central Plan Vivo database. By aggregating small scale activities, Plan Vivo allows communities to participate in emerging markets for environmental services in a cost effective way. Plan Vivo procedures ensure that the carbon credits are registered and administered in a transparent and verifiable way.
Uganda, Plan Vivo System, 2003-2005, UK Department for International Development
LTS and ECCM initiated a successful Plan Vivo system in Uganda in 2003, already resulting in significant ancillary benefits beyond offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon sequestration offers a significant boost in income to farmers engaged in natural forest management, which will be administered in five instalments over 10 years. Revenue generated through initial sales of carbon has offset start up costs for small scale forestry activities in Uganda, thus enabling rural communities to invest in sustainable resource management using income from environmental services. Participants have also gained access to local and national markets for timber, pole wood and fuel wood, fruit and fodder. Nursery establishment and production of seedlings provides additional income to rural communities. In addition, the project will build local and regional capacity and develop generic carbon management systems that may be replicated in other communities throughout the country. Farmers receive $8 per tonne of carbon. On average, farmers will sequester about 60 tonnes of carbon per hectare, resulting in $480 per hectare. This is paid in instalments, subject to meeting monitoring targets (i.e., growth, survival). Since its inception in late 2003, Plan Vivo has generated over $80,000 for rural communities.
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