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CARBON COMPENSATION FORESTRY - 
RAINFOREST RESTORATION

RAINFOREST RESTORATION - CLEVEL’s carbon compensation project in Uganda is replanting deforested zones within key national parks to deliver certified CO2 uptake and full restoration of vital ecosystems.

Ugandan planting sites are managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in partnership with the FACE Foundation and are located in the Kibale and Mount Elgon national parks. UWA was established in 1996 to conserve and manage the wildlife and protected areas of Uganda, in partnership with neighbouring communities and stakeholders, for the benefit of the people of Uganda and the global community. 

CLEVEL undertook a field inspection of planting sites with UWA wardens in October 2006, visiting planting areas from each successive planting year of the project from 2001.

CLEVEL’s sites are restoring previously deforested areas that had been left with only isolated remnant trees. Already the project’s initial planting has created a new low forest canopy of indigenous trees with the pioneer species now beginning to give way to climax species.  The forest is well on track and growing quickly.  

As forests grow they absorb CO2 out of the atmosphere and store it within the biomass of the growing forest.  A mature climax forest exists in a state of dynamic equilibrium, holding the stock of CO2.  Well designed and managed projects provide this CO2 sequestration benefit while managing risk of future CO2 release.  CLEVEL supports this project since it offers reduced risk of deforestation due to the areas inclusion within a National Park, the most protected conservation land.  

Risk is further reduced since the forest forms a natural self perpetuating ecosystem requiring diminishing maintenance.  Unlike monocultures of tree plantations, as a natural diverse tropical forest, it is also fire resistant - further reducing risk of future CO2 release.

The project offers benefits beyond just CO2 and Climate Change.  There is significant full time and part time employment creation both within the UWA and through the creation of independent small scale indigenous tree nurseries that feed the planting sites.  

Buffer zones on the edge of the sites provide community foods, timber and fuelwood, while the maturing forest supports the harvesting of medicinal plants and a growing network of treetop beehives.  There are strong ecological benefits due to watershed protection, increased biodiversity and habitat creation. 

Our rainforest restoration project enables us to deliver a multi benefit compensation strategy certified for CO2 uptake. The certification process for CO2 is monitored by the internationally recognised organisation SGS (Societe Generale De Surveillance - www.sgs.com). The projects are in compliance with FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council - www.fsc.org) regulations and are continuously monitored in terms of sustainable forest management and the amount of CO2 sequestered.