Social impact

Costa Rica is ranked 5 ^th in the world for human poverty according to the United Nations (UNDP), and 8 ^th 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 project also offers research opportunities to educational and scientific institutions locally and worldwide.

One of the project’s aims is to demonstrate to the local land owners that it is essential that deforestation is halted: By offering them a financial incentive for maintaining the rainforest as it is, we are slowly spreading the idea that they do not have to cut down their forests in order to survive financially.

The Carbon Offset Reforestation Project is involved in various social events, charities and activities, please see our newsletters for current events.

Community projects

Escuela Caño Zapota

As a part of their World Environment Day celebrations, Silva Tree launched their most 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.