Reforest the Tropics

The RTT forestry model delivers new, biologically and economically sustainable, tropical forests on land that was previously degraded cattle pasture or failed farmland.

The goals of the RTT forestry model are:
- to provide verified carbon credits for forest sponsors to offset their CO2 emissions,
- to provide income to tropical land owners to replace ranch or farm income,
- to create sustainable, biologically diverse tropical forests on degraded land,
- to be a part of the solution to global climate change.

We believe in a market-based approach to address the issue of climate change. By making the project financially competitive with alternative land use activities AND by designing the forest to be regenerative, the likelihood that the forest will be standing in 100 years is far more favorable than other reforestation models.

RTT's mixed-species forest model delivers outstanding rates of carbon sequestration.

Forest Design
Our Director of Research, Dr. Herster Barres, has dedicated over 50 years to research in tropical forestry. Through these decades of research, Dr. Barres has designed a forestry model which is able to sequester an impressive amount of carbon WHILE ALSO allowing landowners to benefit economically from the sale of timber from necessary forest thinnings. Allowing the landowner to profit encourages him/her to keep the land forested, as opposed to cutting it down for an alternative land-use activity.

Sustainability
Our model is not simply a “plant a tree” program, rather it is a scientific approach to develop a biologically and economically sustainable ecosystem that can remain as forest perpetually. By making the project financially competitive with alternative land use activities AND by designing the forest to be regenerative, the likelihood that the forest will be standing in 100 years is far more favorable than other reforestation models.

Risk Mitigation
Tree species are susceptible to disease and insects. Our model mitigates this risk by using a mixed-species model. Tree species have been wiped out in certain areas throughout the world when a malady finds its niche. Not only does a mixed-species model reduce the hazard of inviting disease through species overcrowding, but it also reduces the risk of catastrophic loss if a disease does manage to take hold of a forest stand. Also, the mixed species model allows for biodiversity and habitat creation for local fauna.

Carbon Extraction
A potential donor may look towards purchasing carbon RECs or engage in emissions reduction efforts to balance their carbon output. At RTT, we applaud any effort to go green, however we also recognize the need to pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are three methods to extract CO2 from the atmosphere: fertilizing the oceans, a risky method that will exacerbate the problem of an already too acidic ocean; smokestack “scrubbers,” which are estimated to remove and store CO2 for a price of approximately $200 per metric ton (The Economist; Mar. 5, 2009); and reforestation; which under the RTT model is safe, sustainable and far more cost effective.

The carbon that is captured in the new forest is credited to the donor for the duration of the 25-year contract period. This contract can be renewed indefinitely. RTT data indicates that a forest sponsor can expect approximately 20 metric tons of carbon to be sequestered each year, for a total of 500 MT of carbon over 25 years. The sponsor may achieve a higher rate of production in the forest. Carbon can be used for one’s personal goals of environmental stewardship or can be used as a powerful marketing tool for any business.

Reforest The Tropics has over 50 years of history, research, and relationships in Costa Rica. We are an applied research program developing and demonstrating a model for sustainable carbon sequestration in tropical forests. An important part of our project involves sharing information we have gathered, so that others may learn from and build upon our efforts

We recognize the social and economic needs of tropical landowners and have thus developed a model that seeks to transform forestry from a long-term, low-rent proposition, to a land-use activity that is able to compete with, and even outperform the value of a corresponding hectare of cattle pasture over the short-term. We want the landowner to be satisfied with the decision to convert pasture to forest. Accordingly, we must treat the farmer fairly. Otherwise, the landowner will simply cut down the forest for a land-use activity that generates more profits. We accomplish the fair treatment of farmers in a number of ways, including; the design of the forest; payments to the farmer to establish the forest and for the carbon dioxide that is captured; the contractual relationship; and the interpersonal relationship.

Through 2021, Reforest The Tropics has:
- planted over 820 acres with our mixed species forestry model in Costa Rica,
- sequestered over 47,000 MT CO2e in our forests,
- engaged over 50 unique sponsors in our work.

In 2019, RTT secured our biggest contract yet to plant 100 hectares of mixed-species forest to offset emissions from a New England biotech firm. In 2022, the same biotech firm contracted with RTT for another 100 hectares!