Friends of Conservation - What is Carbon Sequestration?

Friends of Conservation support forestry and fuel efficiency projects around the world here is a selection of projects that help to offset the effects of climate change.
Our Projects That Offset Carbon Tapichalaca Reserve, Ecuador. This reserve comprises 2,000ha of forest and is adjacent to the Podocarpus National Park. It is home to nearly 1,600 species of birds, many of them endangered, including the Jocotoco Antpitta. The reserve was purchased in 1991 with help from the World Land Trust and is managed by the Fundacion Jocotoco. In addition to protecting the remaining forest, reafforestation using indigenous species is taking place. The Fundacion Jocotoco have a programme of environmental education for local communities and management of the reserve brings employment and Eco-tourism opportunities.	Photo by Nigel Simpson
Ranthambhore National Park, India. Recognised as a leading tiger reserve, the Park is an island of deciduous forest measuring 392sq.km in area of which 90% has wood cover. Surrounded by 200,000 people and 1.5 million cattle and livestock the Park is under continual siege from those seeking fuel, wood and fodder. We support the local Prakratik Society who plant 80,000 seedlings annually on farm land as a buffer to protect the Park and its tigers. Alternative energy sources such as bio-gas are being introduced. An artificial insemination programme to improve the quality of cattle and reduce their numbers is now underway. The Prakratik Society also provide community health and education services.
Masai Mara, Kenya. Due to population growth and tourism needs the loss of wood-cover on the world-famous Masai Mara is reaching critical proportions. A Maasai woman may have to walk 13kms from her home to find fuel for her daily needs - and then carry it home FOC is promoting use of non-woodfuel energy sources and involving local people in their supply and maintenance. In 2004 FOC plans to plant 90,000 indigenous seedlings as part of an ongoing programmed and is paying local people to collect the seeds of indigenous trees

	Tambopata National Reserve and Bahhuaja Sonene National Park, Peru. The Amazonian State of Madre de Dios is one of the least populated and least developed regions of the Amazon . With over 590species of birds and 1230 species of butterfly found in one 55km area is has amazing biodiversity. The Region is endangered from oil and gas prospecting, illegal logging, mining and unsustainable farming practices. Our local partners are seeking to prevent forest destruction through the development of alternative sources of income and environmental education and the promotion of native community initiatives on development problems.
	Cano Negro and Forest Refuge Projects, Costa Rica. Our local partners work with four communities to protect rainforest, reafforest areas damaged through logging and agriculture and are also creating forest plantations using indigenous species. They also own and are reafforesting land around the Cano Negro to prevent further damage to the lagoon caused by the removal of woodcover.
	Grootbos Nature Reserve, South Africa. Grootbos Nature Reserve is situated on South Africa’s Cape Coast. The name “Grootbos” means large wood in Afrikaans and is named after the ancient tract of milkwood forest found on the reserve. The milkwood and afromontane forests are the most southerly stretches of forest in Africa and have unique floristic and structural attributes. Home also to pristine fynbos, the vegetation type unique to the Cape local people are involved and trained in conservation and sustainable horticulture. Through this carbon sequestration programme we will be helping to restore this threatened forest that exists now in small pockets only.