Colombia Eco Travel has partnered with CO2 Tropical Trees, part of Planeta Verde Reforestation, S.A. in Vichada, Colombia. By funding the planting of fast growing tropical trees, you will be able to offset your trip with us. We also offer other options for offsetting your car and a year’s worth of activities.
Planting tropical trees is scientifically proven to fight climate change and global warming. The average tropical tree sequesters 50 lbs or 22.6 kg of carbon per year, with more than 50% of its woody biomass made of carbon. While other trees sequester carbon, none are as efficient as tropical hardwoods.
Carbon offsetting with tropical trees is effective, good for the planet and good for you.
Tropical Trees for CO2 Sequestration
Acacia mangium is an important plantation tropical tree species, because it grows rapidly (10 years to maturity). The tree fixes nitrogen in the soil, produces lumber suitable for many applications, or can serve as a source for pulp, biomass or fuel due to its high calorific value.Acacia mangium is also a land reclamation tree, because it will grow in very poor soils that have been contaminated or need to be revived. Thanks to its rapid growth it is also an important carbon sequestration tree. Its woody biomass has more than 50% carbon, and in addition it deposits carbon in the soil. 250 Acacia mangium trees will make your car carbon neutral for 10 years.
Eucalyptus pellita has become a popular plantation tropical tree because of its rapid growth, ability to grow in poor soils and its slightly higher tolerance for wet soils, compared to Acacia mangium. While this tree does not fix nitrogen, it does absorb pollutants from reclamation areas, and is a great carbon sequestration tree. Eucalyptus pellita is valued for its lumber, pulp and biomass. The leaves contain Eucalyptus oil which has a variety of uses. Its wood has excellent potential for use as fuel due to its high calorific value. 250 Eucalyptus pellita trees will make your car carbon neutral for 10 years. This tree’s woody biomass has more than 50% carbon.
Azadirachta indica or Neem tree is a rapidly growing plantation tree with many side benefits. The tree is highly valued for is medicinal properties. Neem tree compounds can be found in many traditional and modern medicines and cosmetics. Neem tree oil provides an excellent organic insecticide and fungicide. Neem trees fix nitrogen in the soil and are tolerant of poor soils, making them useful in land reclamation projects. The wood has a variety of applications such as furniture and construction. Azadirachta indica is termite resistant. Thanks to its high calorific value it is an excellent fuel and charcoal tree. Due to its rapid growth Azadirachta indica is well suited for carbon sequestration. Fund 250 Neem trees to make your car carbon neutral for 10 years.
CO2 Tropical Trees plants a large variety of other tropical tree species. They have a dedicated program for the seed collection and propagation of native tree species, some of which are endangered due to past reckless logging. Planting native tree species is important for expanded wildlife habitat. For local socio-economic development they also plant many fruit trees, including the native Anacardium occidentale or Cashew tree.
Visit your Trees!
We offer a week long nature adventure and ecotourism experience at La Pedregoza Nature Reserve, that is like no other.
CO2 Tropical Trees located some 58 km by gravel road west-southwest of the Orinoco River port city of Puerto Carreño, which is also the capital of the departamento (state) of Vichada, in Colombia. The plantations are in the heart of what is known as the Orinoco River basin, which together with the Amazon River basin form the green lungs of our planet.
La Pedregoza Nature Reserve is a 1,000 hectare (2,470 acres) area set aside for the conservation and preservation of local Orinoco River basin flora and fauna. It is adjacent and to the North of the tree farm operation. The La Pedregoza Nature Reserve is heavily treed with several old growth forests and morichals (heavily treed savannah drainage creeks), and lies along the banks of the Rio el Bita, which flows into the mighty Orinoco River. It also has an area traditionally called Maldonado, which features a lake and large stone formations. CO2 Tropical Trees have also plant endangered native tree species inside the natural reserve.
How to carbon offset your travel
$100 USD allows us to plant 27 tropical trees, 100% native rainforest species, which will be maintained and protected for a 10 year period. This number of trees allows us to offset the emissions of your travel over a 15 year period. Offsets around 16,200 lbs or 7,452 kg over 15 years.
$75 USD allows us to plant 26 tropical trees, 52% introduced species and 48% native rainforest species, which will be maintained and protected for a 10 year period. This number of trees allows us to offset the emissions of your travel over a 12.5 year period. Offsets around 14,200 lbs or 6,476 kg over 12.5 years.
$50 USD allows us to plant 25 tropical trees, 100% introduced species, which will be maintained and protected for a 10 year period. This number of trees allows us to offset the emissions of your travel over a 10 year period. Offsets around 12,500 lbs or 5,650 kg over 10 years.
Offset your Car’s Emissions
Since the average North American car produces some 12,100 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, you can offset some of your carbon footprint.
The tropical trees planted by Planeta Verde Reforestación S.A. are chosen for various reasons, but all share one common feature – they grow rapidly and sequester lots of carbon. Our program is based on planting sufficient tropical trees to neutralize the carbon dioxide (“CO2″) emissions of the average automobile or car. On average our tropical trees sequester 50 lbs or 22.6 kg of carbon per year. The EPA states that the average car produces emissions of 12,100 lbs (5,488 kg) per year. By planting 250 tropical trees X 50 lbs each they are able to offset the CO2 emissions of your car for a 10 year period.
How to carbon offset your vehicle
$450 USD allows us to plant 250 tropical hardwood trees from seed. At 4 months the seedlings leave the nursery and are planted in afforestation and reforestation areas, where they are protected and maintained for a 10 year period. This period is based on the fact that tropical trees are most effective at carbon sequestration during the first 10 years of their lives. As a result, newly planted tropical trees are one of the best ways of removing and sequestering CO2 to offset your car’s emissions. Offsets around 12,100 lbs every year for 10 years or 5,469 kg every year for 10 years.
Ready to Offset your Emissions and Help the Planet?
Contact us directly: [email protected] and let us know how many trees you want to plant. You can also inform us that you are interested in our offset program when you make a reservation with us.