Ganaderia y Bosques (GANBOS)

The Ganadería y Bosques (GANBOS) project is focused on restoring 30,000 hectares of land in Costa Rica’s Chorotega and Brunca regions, where the environmental quality of the land is poor thanks to a combination of unsustainable cattle grazing and deforestation. The project will restore over 7,500 hectares of mixed-species native forest on cattle farmer owned land, especially along rivers, which will create wildlife corridors and boost biodiversity. In return for setting aside this land for reforestation, the project will then fund a transition to rotational grazing practices on a further 22,500 hectares, helping cattle farmers (Ganaderos) grow healthier pastures and increase their productivity and profitability.

Reforestation will follow rePLANET’s innovative accelerator approach using fast-growing pioneer species to provide shade for mid- and late-succession species to thrive. Combined with improvements in soil carbon storage in areas converted to rotational grazing, the project will remove more than 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over its 40-year duration. Broader environmental benefits will also be extensive: healthier ecosystems (both forest and pasture) will support significantly increased biodiversity, whilst targeting river corridors for reforestation will improve water quality, soil infiltration and water supply, which are critical in this drought prone area.

As in all rePLANET projects, local stakeholders are the primary beneficiaries of the GANBOS project. Farmers will be paid a per hectare income for the area of their farm set aside for reforestation, but more importantly will have their transition to rotational grazing fully funded (equipment plus training) which will increase the income they receive from their farms despite the total farmed area decreasing to make space for reforestation. The remaining funds needed to meet rePLANET’s commitment that 60% of project income should go to local stakeholders will be paid into a Sustainable Business and Livelihoods Fund (SBLF). This fund will provide a pathway to developing alternative sustainable livelihoods to the wider local communities and invest in initiatives that improve local quality of life and address existing inequalities.