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Helping local communities

All Silva Tree projects are developed to meet the Climate Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS), a voluntary standard developed to help design and identify land management projects that simultaneously address climate change, support local communities and conserve biodiversity.

Community activities form an integral part of all Silva Tree projects, in line with the CCB standard but also because we realize that our projects depend on the people around them. We have found kindness and enthusiasm in the people who work on our projects and protect them. We, in turn, look after these communities by offering employment and agricultural opportunities as well as getting involved with schools, social activities, improving housing and living conditions.

Costa Rica is ranked 5th in the world for human poverty according to the United Nations (UNDP), and 8th in the world for poverty below $2 a day. The Carbon Offset Reforestation Project provides lucrative employment opportunities for the local population of Costa Rica both directly and indirectly. The Panamanian government estimates in 1999, classified 48% of the population as living in poverty and 9.8% as living in extreme poverty. The Silva Tree Princess project provides rare opportunities to local people in extreme poverty. Just one initiative allows local people to grow crops in between the tree rows on the project site at no cost, which enables them to grow food for themselves and their families, or to make a living from the sale of their goods.

Every care is taken not to interfere with aboriginal cultures and Silva Tree encourage the education of modern communities about ancient customs and practices. All people affected by our projects, no matter how subtly, are given the opportunity to give us their comments. If any of our activities create a negative impact on local communities, we adapt them accordingly- our aim is to improve people’s lives as much as we can, not to disturb them.

All Silva Tree Projects are involved in various social events, charities and activities, please see our newsletters for specific projects’ events.

Escuela Caño Zapota

As a part of their World Environment Day celebrations, Silva Tree launched their recent community project, helping local school, Escuela Caño Zapota, which required essential repair work. Escuela Caño Zapota is a small school, located in a remote rural village near the Silva Tree Carbon Offset Reforestation Project and was in need of vital repair work. Silva Tree believe in supporting local communities as a part of our projects so when we found out the school needed help, we offered to assist.

The terrain to reach the school is tough, and the Silva Tree team had to brave several obstacles to reach it: A road closure set them back 2 hours before getting stuck in mud and eventually reaching the location just before nightfall...

Silva Tree staff worked hard to assist with on the spot emergency repair work and agreed to financially support the school on a long-term basis, enabling them to purchase materials and install facilities which they have previously been unable afford.

Silva Tree T-shirts were given to the children, many of whom live in deprivation and poverty. The school remains to be on our list of sponsored establishments and details of ongoing work with its staff and children can be found on our website.