When people speak about the impacts of forest restoration, they tend to focus on indicators such as the amount of carbon being sequestered, and the number of trees planted. There is, however, another side to this story. Projects such as CommuniTree also bring significant socio-economic benefits to local communities. This starts with the smallholder farmers who grow trees. For them, participation means diversified income streams over the short, medium, and long term. Then, there are the employment and training opportunities that are created as a direct result of the project.

APRODEIN, Taking Root’s partner in Nicaragua, now supports 173 permanent positions across the country. Their team has grown alongside the project, having started with just three employees in 2010. Given Nicaragua’s difficult economic history, such jobs are not commonplace. “It is difficult to find permanent jobs in our country, and the salaries are minimal,” says Katia Karolina Gutierrez Acuña, one of APRODEIN’s Regional Coordinators. Her colleague, Xiomara Isabel Castellón, agrees. “Most jobs in Nicaragua are informal and there is a lack of permanent positions. Often, the salaries are not even enough to survive.”

“I have been able to support my family economically”

As one of the least developed countries in Latin America, around one-fourth of Nicaragua’s entire population lives below the poverty line. 52% of the rural population lives on $3.20 a day or less. Emigration is rife, with thousands having left the country in recent years to seek a new life abroad. Projects like CommuniTree create employment opportunities that previously did not exist, offering individuals the chance to work in their local community and learn new skills. This extends to the thousands of seasonal workers employed by APRODEIN each year to help farmers build nurseries, complete planting, and perform other silvicultural activities.

Katia explains that working for APRODEIN has given her financial security. “It has helped me and my family enormously. Thanks to my job, I have been able to support my family economically. It has allowed me and my husband to cover the cost of our house,” she says. Itzel Daniela Laguna Dávila, also a Regional Coordinator, echoes a similar sentiment. “Thanks to the income from my work, we have a better standard of living. This has allowed me to pay for my daughter’s studies.”

Encouraging gender equity and continuous professional development

As well as creating jobs, APRODEIN places significant emphasis on building the capacity of its staff through regular training sessions. Gender equity is also a high priority for the organization, with 53% of permanent staff identifying as female. Women are encouraged to hold management positions, with Katia, Xiomara, and Itzel all responsible for coordinating teams of technicians. “Nowadays, it is not easy to find somewhere where you can develop your career. Working here has allowed me to achieve my goals,” says Katia.

In fact, all three women have been given a scholarship by APRODEIN to study a master’s degree in Rural Development with an emphasis in Agribusiness at the Francisco Luis Espinoza Pineda National University in Esteli. They complete their studies alongside their day jobs, which Xiomara says is something APRODEIN supports. “It doesn’t matter how old we are or what situation we are in. They [APRODEIN] have always told us that it is never too late to learn, and that study is the basis for development so that we can improve our skills and better serve the communities we work with.”

Xiomara explains that studying a master’s degree has made her more effective in her role as a Forest Management Coordinator. “Every day I learn something new so that I will be of greater benefit to the organization,” she says. “The master’s degree is focused on rural development, which is what we do in CommuniTree. We learn how to share our knowledge, and how to support farmers so that they are more efficient.” Being better equipped to help others is something Itzel also speaks to. “I hope to be a person who contributes positively to society, and to be a transmitter of knowledge for my co-workers, farmers, and my community,” she says.

Impacts of forest restoration beyond carbon

When asked about the future, Itzel recognises that having the opportunity to further her studies stands her in good stead. “I’m currently upskilling myself. Thanks to that, I hope I will be able to face future challenges and be competitive in the world of work.” Xiomara agrees, sharing that there is further scope for professional development within APRODEIN. “I see myself in new positions, which is possible at APRODEIN,” she says. “I hope to be a leader in this organization, facilitating different processes so we can grow trees and deliver incentives to farmers.”

Xiomara adds that furthering her studies has had a positive impact on her family, too. “I’m the mother of three children. My work has helped me to achieve the dreams of my children and my own, which is to be successful in my career. I came to this organization to work in my profession, in what I studied, and I have been able to do just that!”

The stories of those such as Katia, Xiomara, and Itzel are not often heard by carbon market actors – a market so focused on policy, standards, and MRV. Of course, these things are essential to ensure rigour. But we mustn’t forget that the reach of nature-based initiatives such as CommuniTree go far beyond carbon. High-quality projects benefit the lives of individuals, families, and local communities in ways that are not often reported, but are just as important as the impacts created for climate and for nature.

We’d like to thank Katia, Xiomara, and Itzel for sharing their experiences with us. We’d also like to express our appreciation to everyone at APRODEIN for their hard work in supporting farmers to grow trees.

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