Laguna Om
Carbon
Quintana Roo, México
With more than 84,000 hectares, the Laguna Om ejido is one of the largest community territories in Mexico. To address illegal logging and disordered and uncontrolled land use change, its 494 ejidatarios established a voluntary conservation reserve and undertook a community-based carbon project that strengthens biodiversity, local organization and climate benefits.
~
162
K
restoration offsets
annually estimated
~
38
K
IFM offsets
annually estimated
31
K
hectares
preserved through restoration
7
K
hectares
preserved through integrated forest management (IFM)
494
ejido members
receive benefits from the project
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The context
A Reserve of Life, Preserved by Its People
Located between two biosphere reserves —Sian Ka'an and Calakmul— the Laguna Om ejido represents an area of very high biological importance, with the potential to function as an ecological corridor connecting critical habitats in the region. Of the more than 84,000 hectares of the ejido, 96% corresponds to forest territory, making this place one of the largest areas of continuous jungle protected by a community in southeastern Mexico. Within this context, nearly 38,000 hectares make up the area of activity of the carbon capture project, where work is actively being done for its conservation and restoration.
Location
Quintana Roo, México
Dimensions
The Project Area (ADP) is 84,998 hectares, while the Activity Area is divided into 30,942 hectares under restoration and 7,154 hectares under improved forest management (IFM).
Productive Activities
Forest management, artisanal extraction of chewing gum, traditional agriculture, beekeeping, ecotourism for the sighting of wild fauna and an Environmental Management Unit (UMA) focused on the sustainable management of white-tailed deer, collared peccary and ocelated turkey.
Vegetation
High evergreen tropical forest and low semi-deciduous tropical forest
Fauna
Mammals such as jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), puma (Puma concolor), margay (Leopardus wiedii) and tapir (Tapirus bairdii); in addition to a high diversity of birds such as the ocellate turkey (Meleagris ocellata), and reptiles such as the mountain turpiache (Corytophanes hernandesii) and the Yucatecan iguana (Cachryx (defender).
Flora
Trees such as Ramón (Brosimum alicastrum), chacá (Bursera simaruba), dye stick (Haematoxylum campechianum) and chicozapote (Manilkara zapota).
Certifier
Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
Protocol
Forest Protocol 3.0
Verifier
Ruby Canyon (first period) and GREENCI (second period)
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The activities
On-the-Ground Action
Environmental Analysis and Monitoring
The starting point was a territorial analysis that considered land tenure, the socio-economic context and the ecological characteristics of the ejido. With this information, the carbon baseline survey was designed.
Carbon Baseline
It was carried out in 296 sites distributed over 38,000 hectares of forest cover, divided between a restoration area of 30,942 hectares and an improved forest management area of 7.154 hectares. During 43 days of work, more than 773 large and more than 7,000 medium-sized trees were measured.
Community Participation
The project directly involves 486 ejidatarios and 3,699 residents, strengthening their role as protectors and monitors of the natural resource.
Restoration and Conservation
The project is developed in two areas of activity selected together with the community: one focused on ecological restoration and the other on improved forest management.
Ecological Restoration Actions
Reforestation with native species, weed control, thinning, seed collection, installation of camera traps and establishment of firewalls and fire prevention works are carried out.
Conservation and Regeneration Actions
Practices are implemented that optimize the health and productivity of the forest without compromising its ecological integrity, ensuring the conservation of habitats and the continuous capture of carbon.
Sustainable Use and Management
Sustainable productive activities are mainly carried out in the restaurant area.
Environmental Management Unit
It includes the implementation of a UMA for species such as white-tailed deer, collared peccary and ocelated turkey.
Sustainable Land Use
Activities such as organic and melipona beekeeping, and ecotourism specializing in the sighting of birds and other wild species are also promoted, generating community income and strengthening ecosystem resilience.
Workshops and Training
The project promotes the strengthening of local capacities through workshops and training adapted to the needs of the community.
Community Training
Community brigades receive training in preventing and fighting forest fires, opening and maintaining firewalls, fuel management and preventive signage.
Intergenerational Environmental Education
Phototrapping training is provided and workshops are held for girls, boys, young people and adults, encouraging collective commitment to forest conservation and the responsible use of resources.
“We had a good negotiation. We are leaving a very promising future for our children, our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren.”
Moisés Salgado Sotelo
Laguna Om ejido member
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The Turning Point
A Collective Decision
The people who make up the ejido participate in the selection, design and implementation of additional climate action activities. These are chosen according to the needs of the community and the reinvestment mechanism established in the signed agreement, integrating local knowledge and strengthening local governance.
A Purpose-Driven Project
Through the conservation and management of its forest cover, the ejido generates carbon credits that help finance restoration activities, community monitoring, and capacity building, consolidating a long-term strategy.
Beyond Carbon
The design and management of the ejido of its territory focuses on local knowledge, community governance and the regeneration of ecosystems as a basis for collective well-being.
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The Impact
Conservation with co-benefits
Science-Based Restoration
To ensure permanence and additionality, the project is registered, verified and certified by accredited entities. We also combine our Toroto Track tool with satellite monitoring and fieldwork technologies to ensure the quality and permanence of the captured carbon.
Biodiversity as a Foundation
Biodiversity is the foundation of resilient socio-ecological systems. Our specialized team performs baseline studies, continuous monitoring and strategies to conserve and strengthen key ecosystems.
Community-Led Action
Local brigades implement conservation and restoration actions, generating employment, roots and a sense of belonging to the territory. These activities strengthen environmental education and encourage active and sustained community participation.
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The Impact
Conservation with co-benefits
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Science-Based Restoration
To ensure permanence and additionality, the project is registered, verified and certified by accredited entities. We also combine our Toroto Track tool with satellite monitoring and fieldwork technologies to ensure the quality and permanence of the captured carbon.
Biodiversity as a Foundation
Biodiversity is the foundation of resilient socio-ecological systems. Our specialized team performs baseline studies, continuous monitoring and strategies to conserve and strengthen key ecosystems.
Community-Led Action
Local brigades implement conservation and restoration actions, generating employment, roots and a sense of belonging to the territory. These activities strengthen environmental education and encourage active and sustained community participation.
Regenerating nature, one project at a time
We do important things differently.
