Patagonia Sur Receives Highest Global Accreditation for Carbon Offsets
Patagonia Sur’s native-species reforestation project in Chilean Patagonia has become accredited under the Verified Carbon Standard, one of the leading certifications within the global carbon management industry. It is the first project to use trees native to Chile while focusing on restoring the country’s indigenous biodiversity.
Patagonia Sur’s native-species reforestation project in Chilean Patagonia has become accredited under the Verified Carbon Standard, one of the leading certifications within the global carbon management industry. It is the first project to use trees native to Chile while focusing on restoring the country’s indigenous biodiversity.
Since 2010, Patagonia Sur has been creating carbon offsets through its Reforestation and Biodiversity Project on its Valle California property in the Palena province of southern Chile. Three types of native-species beech trees – Coigüe, Ñirre, and Lenga — are planted. Each tree is expected to sequester 0.48 tons of carbon dioxide over an 80-year period. In 2012, Patagonia Sur expects to plant more than 1,000,000 trees.
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is a global leader in the voluntary carbon market, ensuring that carbon credits sold to companies and consumers can be trusted and produce tangible environmental benefits. Patagonia Sur fulfilled all requirements for VCS certification: its carbon offsets are scientifically sound, additional beyond business-as-usual activities, measurable, permanent, independently verified, and each offset is used only once to offset emissions.
Patagonia Sur sells its carbon offsets to corporations, universities, and individuals who are looking to voluntarily reduce their carbon footprints. “We chose Patagonia Sur as our source of carbon offsets after evaluating many other options,” says John Pumilio, Director of Sustainability at Colgate University, a member of Patagonia Sur’s University Conservation Circle (UC2) . “Partnering with Patagonia Sur enables our students, professors, and alumni to experience the reforestation project firsthand, while also engaging in research and adventure in one of the most incredible places on earth.”
Patagonia Sur is replanting in areas that were deforested in the early 1900s by settlers who burned more than seven million acres to clear land for pasture. Deforestation is a leading contributor of carbon emissions worldwide, second only to the burning of fossil fuels. Temperate forest absorbs the most CO2 and Chile hosts one of the world’s largest areas of temperate forest. In addition to sequestering carbon dioxide, Patagonia Sur's Valle California reforestation program benefits the area’s ecology by helping control soil erosion, strengthen native plant communities, reduce the number of invasive plant species, and improve habitat for the region’s wildlife. Therefore, when clients purchase a VCS-validated carbon credit from Patagonia Sur, they are able to achieve their own goals of staying carbon neutral, while also ensuring the long-term preservation of one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems.
“We are proud that our efforts to restore Chile’s native biodiversity in this global hot-spot have been validated by rigorous third-party standards. VCS verification confirms that our forest-based carbon offset project is of the highest scientific integrity, and will sequester the specified amount of greenhouse gases,” says Divya Mankikar, general manager for Carbon Offsets at Patagonia Sur. “Our successful VCS certification is due in large measure to the expertise of our team of forestry experts in the field, led by Matías Rio.”
Sustainability-minded corporations have been another significant and receptive market for Patagonia Sur’s carbon offsets. Patagonia Sur created the Corporate Conservation Circle (C3) to collaborate with companies from around the world — such as Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet — which have a demonstrated commitment to environmental stewardship. “Patagonia Sur embodies Audemars Piguet’s values of authenticity and innovation, as well as our longstanding support of environmental conservation and education projects around the world. We are honored to be a founding Corporate Conservation Circle member of this spectacular venture,” adds François Bennahmias, President & CEO, Audemars Piguet, North America. In addition to creating a dedicated Audemars Piguet forest, Patagonia Sur also provides corporations with the opportunity to host their top clients at The Patagonia Sur Reserves, a world-class eco-tourism destination.
Individuals and families interested in offsetting their carbon footprint, or neutralizing specific activities or items such as weddings, Patagonia adventure travel, home, or vehicle, may purchase offsets directly from Patagonia Sur’s Patagonia adventure travel site.
About Patagonia Sur:
Patagonia Sur is a for-profit conservation venture that invests in, protects, and enhances scenically remarkable and ecologically valuable properties in Chilean Patagonia. An innovative blend of conservation and capitalism, Patagonia Sur seeks to deliver competitive financial returns to investors by preserving pristine ecosystems and the traditional culture of Patagonia in perpetuity by developing and nurturing a diverse portfolio of self-sustaining and environmentally sensitive businesses.
Media Contacts:
Deirdre Campbell, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838 or deirdre@tartangroup.ca
Carlota Vilalva, Patagonia Sur: + (56) 2-592-1193 or Carlota@PatagoniaSur.com