Soil Organic Carbon: How can smallholder farming communities benefit from carbon sequestration projects?

Financing restoration at scale remains one of the key challenges. Payments for ecosystem services and payments for soil organic carbon enhancements (SOC) are increasingly discussed as one way to channel resources to restoration efforts. SOC payments are a comparatively new instrument. The SOC payment schemes can therefore learn from experiences of REDD+ projects. Given the overall focus of this segment, this session will reflect on how soil organic carbon projects can benefit smallholder farming communities and reward them for their restoration activities. Our panellists will share insights into REDD+ initiatives and will discuss how these experiences can inform the design and implementation of SOC projects. Particular attention will be given to explore enabling environments, and if and how digital and social innovations can play a role here.

Panel:
– Amy Duchelle, Team Leader – Climate Change, Energy & Low-Carbon, CIFOR / ICRAF
– Leigh Winowiecki, Soil and Land Health Leader, CIFOR / ICRAF
– Amos Wekesa, Environment and Climate Change Advisor, Vi Agroforestry

Facilitated by Sarah D’haen, Project Coordinator, TMG Research

Main Session: Soils as keystone for food security and ecosystem restoration