Restoring the Rio Tule Watershed Through Regenerative Agroforestry

- A Tierra Foods & Playa Viva Carbon Project

Tierra Foods, in collaboration with Playa Viva and ReSiMar, is embarking on an ambitious project to regenerate the Rio Tule watershed in Guerrero, Mexico. The Rio Tule Watershed is made up of six small communities (Juluchuca, Rancho Nuevo, La Ceiba, Las Placitas, La Barrita, and El Cayacal) with a population of about 1,000 people and the Playa Viva Hotel. More than 50 of the local community members are employed at Playa Viva, while others rely on agriculture, subsistence fishing, cattle ranching, and/or a few small cottage industries such as coconut candy factories and nearby salt flats.

                                                                                Click here to Support this Project

This innovative initiative aims to restore 353 hectares of degraded land through agroforestry systems that integrate native species, including the Brosimum alicastrum tree (locally known as “Uje”), with crops like cacao, coffee, and turmeric. These systems are designed to promote sustainable food production, enhance carbon sequestration, and improve the socio-economic resilience of local communities.

Project Overview

The Rio Tule watershed faces significant environmental and socio-economic challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity. For instance, data from the past 20 years (from 2001 to 2023) show that, the Costa Grande region lost in total a net 5,530 ha of tree cover (data from GlobalForestWatch). Included within this number are 1,900 hectares of primary forest loss. The Tierra Foods & Playa Viva Carbon Project aims to address these issues by establishing four distinct agroforestry systems that will provide economic opportunities, enhance biodiversity, and sequester both organic and inorganic carbon. The project’s first two phases will see the restoration of 50 hectares, with plans to scale up to over 353 hectares in subsequent phases.

Through a landscape approach, the project seeks to restore soil health, improve water quality, and support local biodiversity, while also creating sustainable livelihoods for farmers and landowners in the region.

Agroforestry Systems

Upper watershed: 

1. Placitas Cafetal: A multi-layered system focusing on the production of coffee and turmeric alongside the Uje tree, enhancing soil stability and moisture retention.

2. Placitas Cascada: Integrates cacao, banana, and other supporting species to create a productive, multi-strata system designed to improve soil quality and provide diversified income streams.

Lower watershed:

3. Gabriel - Cooperative: Managed by a local women’s cooperative, this site focuses on high-value crops like turmeric and ginger, which grow under the canopy of Uje trees, enhancing food security and providing income opportunities for women.

4. La Campiña: The most diverse site, featuring a food forest with cacao, Uje, and various fruit trees. It supports local food systems and restores degraded coastal lands.

Social and Economic Benefits

The project delivers significant social and economic benefits, focusing on community engagement, education, and gender equality. By involving local farmers, women’s cooperatives, and community leaders, the project provides training and employment opportunities that empower participants and promote inclusive growth. Key initiatives include:

• Community Engagement and Education: ReSiMar (Playa Viva’s Regenerative, Social and Environmental Impact Initiative) community members have been trained in regenerative agroforestry practices through several workshops, promoting sustainable land management, adding value to agroforestry products and increasing awareness of carbon markets and their potential benefits. 

• Economic Resilience: The agroforestry systems enhance the financial resilience of local communities by diversifying income streams. The potential to commercialize carbon credits, alongside produce sales, provides a reliable and sustainable source of income for smallholder farmers.

• Community Collaboration: Playa Viva is a Regenerative Boutique Hotel established in 2008 on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, known for its commitment to social and environmental impact. Through its ReSiMar initiative, Playa Viva funds various regenerative programs in the Rio Tule watershed, including a locally managed Permaculture Farm, an Education Center, a regional Food Hub, and a Women’s Cooperative. 

• Gender Equality:  The cooperative, founded by the Playa Viva Permaculture Team, empowers women by providing training in organic farming, creating opportunities in traditionally male-dominated roles, and enhancing market access for local producers. Together, these initiatives aim to restore ecosystems, support sustainable economies, and promote regenerative agricultural practices within the community.

                                                                                 Click here to Support this Project

Environmental Impact

The Tierra Foods & Playa Viva Carbon Project aims to make a substantial environmental impact by restoring the ecological balance of the Rio Tule watershed. Key environmental benefits include:

• Soil and Water Quality: By integrating regenerative practices, the project improves soil health, reduces erosion, and enhances water retention, benefiting both agricultural productivity and local ecosystems.

• Biodiversity Conservation: The agroforestry systems provide habitats for various bird, insect, and plant species, supporting ecological connectivity and enhancing the resilience of local ecosystems.
• Pollution reduction: Guarantee the agroecological management of project sites and reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides throughout the watershed and during the length of the project.

About Tierra Foods

Tierra Foods (TF) is a science-led company specialising in developing agroforestry projects that utilise biomineralisation-capable plants to create sustainable food ingredients and achieve long-term carbon removal. By integrating oxalogenic plants like the Uje tree (Brosimum alicastrum), TF harnesses the Oxalate-Carbonate Pathway (OCP) to convert atmospheric CO2 into stable, soil-based calcium carbonate, enhancing soil health and water retention while sequestering carbon. These regenerative agroforestry systems are co-designed with farmers and adaptable to existing food supply chains, offering environmental, social, and commercial benefits. In collaboration with partners like Playa Viva, TF leads the co-design of agroforestry plots, covers initial material costs such as trees, and labour for planting, and conducts annual soil measurements to validate carbon removal. TF is pioneering a biomineralisation methodology for quantifying carbon capture, aiming to issue high-integrity carbon credits with higher durability and in compliance with both off-registry and on-registry standards, engaging with leading partners to ensure rigorous validation and scalability.

Carbon Sequestration

The project aims to sequester over 95,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in organic and inorganic forms over 20 years, contributing to global climate change mitigation efforts. 

1. Carbon sequestration (organic): Enhance carbon sequestration capacity within the agroforestry system by planting a diverse mix of trees and shrubs, resulting in the sequestration of 13-19 tCO₂ / ha / year, over 20 years, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
2. Carbon sequestration (inorganic): Integrate biomineralisation plants, and include inorganic carbon additionality and permanence within the agroforestry system, resulting in 1.27 tCO₂/ ha / year (Rowley et al., 2017).

Supporting the Project

Our mission goes beyond carbon offsetting; it’s about revitalizing landscapes, restoring biodiversity, and rebuilding resilient communities. By investing in Tierra Foods' carbon credits, you are not just balancing your carbon footprint - you are actively participating in the regeneration of one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world, supporting local livelihoods and contributing to a sustainable future.

‍

Join us in creating a future where food systems are good for people, nature, and the climate.