Community-based smart reforestation in indigenous territories

Reforestation is a critical climate mitigation strategy, yet traditional carbon market models often exclude Indigenous Peoples and other rural landholders due to high technical and financial barriers. Furthermore, many large-scale initiatives prioritize fast-growing exotic species over native, ecological more suitable species and do not engage communities. In 2020-21 we began a consultation process in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama to develop a transdisciplinary, community-driven reforestation project that integrates scientific evidence with local priorities. We combine ecological and social science research.

The project compensates Indigenous residents and smallholder farmers for planting and stewarding native trees in degraded and deforested areas. Through participatory consultations, 27 native species were selected for planting suitability based on ecological potential and locally valued uses. Agreements were also established to ensure fair payments for land use, maintenance, and long-term carbon sequestration (20 years). Between 2022 and 2023, species selection trials were planted in 100 hectares across 27 landholdings. Two years post-planting, survival rates ranged between 40–60%, achieving approximately 50% of the projected planted target by year three. As expected, some species did not survive the first dry season. Variability in establishment success might also be linked to soil texture and fertility, water availability, and microclimatic conditions. Here we report on survivorship and growth across trial plots and in relation to soil fertility and topographic position, essential information to inform large scale reforestation with understudied species.

In addition, the project convenes regular technical meetings and participatory assemblies with landholders and Indigenous authorities to present monitoring outcomes, review tree performance, and discuss management practices implemented directly by community members on their lands, thereby ensuring transparency, collective evaluation, and adaptive decision-making throughout the initiative.

By combining rigorous ecological monitoring with equitable benefit-sharing and community participation, this initiative seeks to develop reforestation strategies that generate long-term environmental benefits and sustainable income, laying the foundation for broader reforestation initiatives here and elsewhere.