September 12, 2023 | Mongabay |
The village of Drawa in Fiji has implemented a verified forest carbon project that involves selling carbon credits on the voluntary market through the Plan Vivo standard. The Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative (DBFCC) was formed eleven years ago by local chiefs to set aside parts of ancestral forest for conservation rather than timber harvesting. The project aims to provide an alternative to logging, preserving some of Vanua Levu’s last primary rainforests and safeguarding habitats for endangered species. While controversy surrounds the integrity of carbon credits, the Drawa project offers a sustainable and economically viable option for the community. In addition to carbon credits, the cooperative has initiated a rainforest honey business as an alternative livelihood, providing income and promoting conservation.