Ecotierra, in partnership with Forêt communautaire Hereford, is proud to announce a significant milestone for the PIVOT forest project, which has just completed its first verification, totaling nearly 84,000 Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) on the VERRA registry. Developed under the VCS standard, this project is a pioneer in utilizing climate finance mechanisms for small and medium forest owners in Quebec. It also marks the culmination of extensive work by the Ecotierra team, which developed the project's methodology (VM00034) and has now become a benchmark in Canada for such initiatives.
A Rigorous Process for Tangible Results
The success of this initial carbon credit issuance with PIVOT results from a complex and meticulous process that began with the development and approval of an innovative VCS methodology, followed by the rigorous selection of initial forest plots and a detailed forest inventory. A monitoring report was then prepared to document the project’s activities and calculate the carbon credits. This report was verified by an auditing company recognized by VERRA, including field inspections to ensure transparency, data integrity, and environmental and social impact.
Sustainable Impact on the Carbon Market
PIVOT is the first grouped Canadian project to achieve this milestone in the carbon market, enhancing the initiative's credibility with current and future partners. The credits generated are distinguished by their high quality and co-benefits, such as biodiversity conservation, community impact, and water resource protection.
The credits from this initial verification come exclusively from the efforts of Forêt communautaire Hereford, Quebec's largest community-owned private forest. Since 2018, its forest managers have altered their forestry practices in certain areas to increase carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Outlook and Next Steps
Following the issuance of this first batch of VCUs, Ecotierra is already working on finalizing sales agreements with companies in the Quebec and North American markets. The Ecotierra team is open to discussing opportunities with interested partners who have clear climate responsibility policies.
Ecotierra is also in the process of planning PIVOT's second verification, scheduled for 2025. This new issuance of credits, covering over 7,000 hectares, will involve over thirty small and medium forest owners across Quebec, who have been integrated into the project since 2021 following a rigorous eligibility analysis.
Message from the Management Team
Luis Salgado, Director of SBN and Climate Finance at Ecotierra, expressed his congratulations to the team for their commitment and perseverance: “We have demonstrated that we are capable of translating our team’s expertise in climate finance mechanisms into the reality of the Quebec forestry sector. We are committed to providing the Quebec market with carbon credits of the highest environmental integrity and strong environmental and social co-benefits.”
About ECOTIERRA
ECOTIERRA is a social enterprise developing and operating unique, holistic, and sustainable agroforestry projects. The company’s mission is to work collaboratively with small producers to use land responsibly, accelerate sustainable development in their communities, and combat climate change and soil degradation. Established for 10 years, it has generated nearly $30 million in value from family farms and forests.
For those interested in learning more about the PIVOT project or exploring the opportunity to purchase carbon credits, we invite you to get in touch with us. Please visit the following link to access detailed information and make your purchase. Our team is here to provide any additional information you may need and to support your engagement in our carbon credit offerings.
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