The Bull Run Overseas Forest Carbon Project located in Belize is a forest conservation project that combines climate, environmental and social benefits. The project supports local communities through job creation and educational opportunities, protects the area’s biodiversity from habitat destruction, and avoids deforestation and forest degradation due to agricultural activities.

The Context

The forest protection project lies in the small Central American state of Belize, bordering the Caribbean Sea. Belize’s abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems give it a key place within the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. Historically, the project’s property was a source of pine lumber and was run as a private production forest.

The Project

Certified on CCBA Gold level for outstanding biodiversity features, the project addresses both pressing environmental issues in the region, and global warming. At the same time, it benefits the local population in a region suffering from economic problems, mainly by the generation of jobs and educational support to the young generation. The project consists of a tropical mixed broadleaf forest and aims to protect the broadleaf forest component of the property as a carbon sink, maintain its biodiversity values, and enhance the local economic environment with sustainable livelihoods.

The Benefits

In the project’s absence, the area would be converted to a large coffee farm with adverse effects on soil, water, wildlife, and carbon storage capabilities. Forest patrols and wildfire prevention measures protect the area and its rich wildlife, with many vulnerable and endangered mammals and birds. Among them are jaguar, southern river otter, tapir, orange-breasted falcon, stygian owl, and ocelot.

The Certification

Please refer to the Verified Carbon Standard entry for getting more information on the project and how it was audited.