What does the Plan Vivo System offer to rural communities?

The Plan Vivo System provides an opportunity for communities and small-scale producers to participate in emerging markets for environmental services. Many activities that have the potential to improve livelihoods in rural and peri-urban areas also have the potential to offset emissions of carbon dioxide by other sectors. However, if forestry and other activities are planned solely for the purpose of offsetting carbon there may be detrimental local effects.

Plan Vivo provides a flexible framework through which activities planned and implemented by producers may be evaluated for their ability to offset carbon emissions. The sale of quantified reductions in carbon emissions, so-called 'carbon credits', can provide additional sources of income to communities and help cover the start-up costs of these activities. The Plan Vivo System enables the aggregation of carbon credits from a large number of small-scale activities in a cost-effective and verifiable way.

What activities can be used in a Plan Vivo project?

Any activity that can produce quantifiable reductions in green house gas emissions and promote sustainable livelihoods can be used in a Plan Vivo project. Carbon offset activities currently used in Plan Vivo projects include:

• Small-scale timber plantations
• Restoration of degraded forests
• Agroforestry
• Small-scale electricity generation using biomass
• Solar powered water pumps

Find out more about project development.