Reforestation on Degraded Land - Uruguay

Located in the heart of Uruguay, this project turns 21,298 hectares of land that have been used for beef cattle grazing for over 300 years, to sustainable managed forests. About 80% of Uruguayan territory is used for cattle ranching on natural and artificial savanna, and over-grazing with unequal distribution of cattle has degraded the natural vegetation. This project will convert this land to forest plantations, for obtaining high-value, long-lived timber products and for sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide.

Planted forests will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in different carbon pools (living above-ground and below-ground biomass, soil organic carbon, litter and dead wood). Over the 60 year initial lifespan of the project, this project will sequester 7,644,973 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere.

Project Impact and Secondary Benefits: Employment Creation of employment is one of the main social benefits of the project. Typically, a traditional extensive livestock production system employs 1.4-4.4 persons every 1,000 ha. This project is expected to increase that figure by more than 8-10 times. Beyond an increased number of direct and indirect jobs, the project is expected to contribute to the development of the region and the country pursuant the priorities defined by Uruguayan government (promotion of small family businesses, increase in exports, eradication of rural poverty, incorporation of technology, increased nationally added value, development of new productive chains and geographic decentralization of development). Natural Forests and Bio-diversity protected About 8.6% of Uruguay is forested. According to the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Uruguay has 659 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles, 2.3% of which are endemic and 5.6% threatened. To achieve its climate goals and preserve its valuable habitats, Uruguay must take measures to preserve and grow the country's forests. It has to keep the balance between the demand of the industry for wood and the climate and environmental protection.