Located in the eastern region of Inner Mongolia, in between the Greater Khingan Mountain Range and the Hailar River, this vast and snowy landscape is covered by important birch and larch forest. For years, this forestland has been logged with government approval for timber production and farming. As well as impacting the global climate, this has caused severe soil erosion on land which is already challenged by harsh temperatures, and it has threatened the area’s rich variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, marten and hare. The traditional nomadic lifestyle of the locals has also come under assault due to these consequences of deforestation.

The Solution

Commercial logging was banned in 2015 and forest regions are gradually being converted into protected spaces. This project will reforest, protect and conserve 43,167 hectares of Wu’erqihan forest across 13 state-owned departments. By retraining loggers as forest wardens the project boosts local incomes and allows native tree species such as birch and larch to flourish.

The Impact

Forests that have already been converted into protected spaces have helped Inner Mongolia’s grasslands become greener and replenished the country’s wetlands. Minimal planting is carried out, allowing the land to restore itself naturally and boosts biodiversity. In addition, more trees also means more CO2 removed from the atmosphere.

The Certification

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