Ejido El Alamito Reforestation Project

Restoring Native Forests and Strengthening Land Stewardship in Northwest Mexico

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Reforesting Ejido Lands with Long-Term Carbon and Biodiversity Benefits

Located in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the municipality of Santiago Papasquiaro, this project spans nearly 5,000 hectares of community-managed ejido land (Mexico’s unique common land tenancy system) known as El Alamito. Through active reforestation and improved forest management, it aims to regenerate native pine–oak forests, improve carbon stocks, and support biodiversity.

The project applies Climate Action Reserve’s Mexico Forest Protocol (v3.0) across three activity areas with distinct forest structures—ranging from managed stands to regenerating parcels and conservation zones. Native species like Pinus durangensis, Pinus cooperi, Pinus arizonica, and Juniperus deppeana dominate the site’s ecology, forming part of a high-altitude mixed forest system.

This initiative builds on over two decades of sustainable forestry practices under public programmes like PROFORES and promotes climate-resilient land management, empowering the ejido to implement long-term forest regeneration aligned with national and global climate goals.

Project ID:

CAR1911

Project Status:

Project Registered

Location:

Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango, Mexico

Size:

4,962.6389 hectares

Project Type:

Reforestation and Improved Forest Management (ARR / IFM)

Estimated Average Annual Emissions Reductions

25,000 tCO2e 

Crediting Period Term

2023–2053

Community Impact:

Sustainable land tenure, forest management training, local economic development

Climate Benefits and Community Impact

The project has a strong commitment to environmental and sustainable development that benefit local communities through the following contributions:

Environment

By restoring over 4,900 hectares of native forest cover, the project improves carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and long-term soil and watershed health. Forest activity areas include a mix of Pinus and Quercus species with varied vertical and horizontal structure, managed under selective and silvicultural treatments that promote regeneration. Forest inventory, species mapping, and permanent plot monitoring ensure that carbon removals are robust, verifiable, and sustainable over time.

Community

Ejido members directly participate in all aspects of the project, including forest operations, management planning, and land monitoring. The project promotes technical capacity building and income diversification for local residents, many of whom depend on forest resources. With legal land tenure and formal community governance, the ejido ensures that climate finance reaches the people protecting the land.

Climate Action

The project contributes to Mexico’s climate commitments by reducing emissions through natural climate solutions. With multiple activity areas following distinct forest management strategies, emissions reductions are measured using stratified carbon stock baselines and rigorous protocols. In doing so, the project not only locks in carbon for the long term, but also establishes a replicable model for other ejido-led forestry efforts in the region.

Project overview

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More about the project

The protection of this project helps participate in several of the United Nations Sustainability Goals

GOAL 13 – Climate Action

GOAL 15 – Life on Land

WE ARE ALL ONE TRIBE

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Speak to our Carbon Offset & Removals specialist

Eric currently works as an independent consultant at the intersection of nature and climate, focused on catalysing market and non-market solutions to drive the just transition.

He previously was Head of Product at Earthshot Labs, supporting nature conservation and restoration projects across the global south secure project finance. Prior to Earthshot Labs, Eric led nature-based carbon project development for Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and founded the Carbon Cooperative, a global alliance of leading nature conservation and restoration practitioners exploring carbon finance. After serving in the Peace Corps in Mozambique out of university, he spent much of his 20s working in community-based conservation and ecosystem restoration efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa interspersed with two startup ventures as co-founder and CEO of a mental health tech startup and COO of a sustainable coffee company. Eric has a dual Masters in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Policy from Stanford University where he was a NSF Graduate Research Fellow and a BS in Environmental Engineering from Tufts University.

Alan is a risk management thought-leader, superconnector, and FinTech pioneer. His mission is to enable an Earth Positive economy which includes nature in global accounting systems.

Alan is Founder of Generation Blue, a venture studio dedicated to planetary game changers powered by exponential technologies. Previously, Alan established Natural Capital Markets at Lykke AG, pioneering blockchain based forestry and carbon backed tokens. Alan has over two decades of risk management experience advising global financial institutions, and was a founding member of the RiskMetrics Group, a JPMorgan spin-off. Alan is an investor and advisor to regenerative impact ventures, including TreeBuddy.Earth, Regenativ, and Vlinder Climate.

Lori Whitecalf made history when she became the first woman to be elected Chief of Sweetgrass First Nation in 2011. She served three terms of office from 2011-2017.  

Lori took a two-year hiatus from leadership to expand the family ranch and serve as the FSIN Senior Industry Liaison. She was re-elected on November 29. 2019 and again on November 30, 2021, as Chief of Sweetgrass. Chief Whitecalf practises a traditional lifestyle of hunting, fishing and gathering. She currently sits on the following boards: Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology, FSIN Lands and Resource Commission, Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre and Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs Executive Council, FSIN Women’s Commission.

Tina is the Chief Business Officer for MLTC Industrial Investments, the Economic Development arm of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. She has a diverse background of experience. Having spent 15 years as a municipal Chief Operating Officer, 20 years involved in Saskatchewan’s Health Authority Board Keewatin Yatthe and 9 years with Northern Lights Board of Education. 

 

She continues as a Board Member with Beaver River Community Futures supporting small business development in her home region. Tina brings a wealth of experience in a variety of fields and many connections to the Indigenous communities of Northern Saskatchewan. In addition Tina holds a BA Advanced from the U of S, a Certificate in Local Government Authority from the U of R and is certified as a Professional Economic Developer for Saskatchewan and a certified Technician Aboriginal Economic Developer (TAED).

Tootoosis’ career spans 40+ years in HRM, political leadership, and Indigenous economic development, as a dedicated bridge builder and advocate for Indigenous causes.
As a key member of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) team since 2021, he develops strategies for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report and Call to Action #92.

He is a graduate of the First Nations University of Canada and a certified Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer. Spearheading various community initiatives while serving as a Chair of the SIEDN while directing ILDII and WIBF. Founder of MGT Consulting Tootoosis is based in Saskatoon, Treaty Six Territory.

Cy Standing (Wakanya Najin in Dakota) has a long and distinguished career including serving overseas as an Electronics Technician in the Royal Canadian Air Force, former Chief of Wahpeton Dakota Nation, former Vice Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indigenous Nations (FSIN), past Executive Director of Community Development Branch of the Department of Northern Saskatchewan as well as an Order in Council appointment to the Federal Parole Board.  

Mr. Standing has served as a Director on many Profit and Non-Profit Corporate Boards, including serving as a Director for Affinity Credit Union with assets of over six billion dollars as well as IMI Brokerage and Wanuskewin and is currently a member of the One Tribe Indigenous Carbon Board.