Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

The Assisted natural regeneration for riparian forests in the Tucumán foothills project is a transformative initiative aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems and mitigating climate change through targeted reforestation efforts in Argentina's Tucumán region. Over 20 years, the project expects to sequester approximately 34,850 tCO₂e , with a range of 23,234 to 46,467 tCO₂e, by revitalizing key forested areas and enhancing biodiversity.

The Assisted natural regeneration for riparian forests in the Tucumán foothills project follows an innovative and efficient process:

- Site Selection:  Through our ecosystem analysis platform, we identify degraded forest areas, focusing on those with the highest restoration potential.

- Advanced preparation of iSeeds: we encapsulate native seeds with biotechnology, nutrients, and coatings, maximizing germination and resilience in extreme conditions.

- Leading-edge Drone Deployment: precision planting in microsites, efficiently deploying iSeeds across large areas, optimizing time and minimizing human intervention.

- Growth Monitoring: After planting, through multispectral mapping and field monitoring of regrowth, we monitor the restoration areas to track seedling development and make adjustments as needed to optimize success rates.

This streamlined approach combines precision planting in microsites with iSeeds, integrating assisted natural regeneration to restore large areas, promote biodiversity, and achieve sustainability through cutting-edge technology and effective ecological practices.

How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

['Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)']

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Our project actively empowers underrepresented groups in the climate movement by integrating women, and indigenous communities. In a traditionally male-dominated startup ecosystem like Tucumán’s, women occupy leadership roles within our organization, including Paula and Milena, who are pivotal to project strategy and execution. This representation is critical in challenging the gender imbalance prevalent in local innovation spaces.
Tucumán faces unique environmental and social challenges, including air pollution levels six times above the recommended standards, as revealed by a recent study from the National University of Tucumán. This alarming pollution problem underscores the urgent need for reforestation as a natural solution to improve air quality and mitigate its impacts. Furthermore, the province is home to diverse indigenous communities, representing over 15,000 individuals across multiple ethnic groups. These communities are actively involved in validating native species used in reforestation and participate in communication and feedback processes during the monitoring of forest growth.
Our approach also aligns with the principles of the Escazú Agreement, which prioritizes the inclusion of marginalized voices in environmental decision-making but remains under-implemented in Argentina. By involving these groups, we restore ecosystems while addressing critical environmental health issues and fostering equitable participation.