Contractbook Focuses Reforestation Efforts on Bolivian Amazon

Contractbook believes in a responsible and sustainable tech industry that cares about its climate impact. Since 2019, we’ve committed to planting one tree per 100th digitally signed contract on our platform. That way, when you use Contractbook’s 100% digital workflow, you’re not only minimizing paper waste and preventing deforestation—you’re also supporting reforestation by planting more trees.

Today we have planted 3,010 trees on your behalf, in a variety of different projects. That means we have removed 117.4 tons of CO2 from our atmosphere.

Yet, in order to maximize our efforts, we’ve now decided to focus our efforts on a specific high-impact project that is located in the Bolivian Amazon—the ArBolivia Project. This project has three advantages that made us support them: a high CO2 emission offset standard, a focus on keeping the farmers’ interests central, and lastly, a focus on intercropping farming. Not only does planting trees through this project help the climate by reducing emissions—it also helps protect the rainforest.

Why support the Bolivian Amazon?

The Amazon, sometimes referred to as the lungs of the Earth, is the biggest rainforest in the world and an incremental part of reducing carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Planting trees and supporting the reforestation of this specific location can have a great impact on reducing the effects of climate change. 

The best thing about this project is that it has a specifically high standard of collecting carbon in the atmosphere based on the placement and varieties of trees planted. When counting the CO2 offset of every single tree that has been planted, it’s exceptionally high. Right now, all trees planted compensate for 219 kg CO2. Not only do trees absorb CO2, which is one of the most known emissions. Trees that we plant also help absorb other pollutant gases like ammonia and nitrogen oxides. Out of all emissions coming from fossil fuels, trees capture ⅓, so why wouldn't we plant trees? Even though some might say that other drastic solutions are needed, why not do both? 

How does this initiative go beyond planting trees?

The state of the Bolivian Amazon is critical. The forest is rapidly being cut or burned down. This is due mostly to economic interests, like areas for agricultural land. Since Bolivia is one of the most economically strained countries in South America, it can be hard to stop a pattern of deforestation which in the short term generates small amounts of money. The deforestation that is occurring in the Amazon is responsible for 18% of the world’s total emissions. This is why it’s so important to build a project that involves the indigenous people, as they’re the ones who are going to keep this project alive long-term. 

The farmers owning the land are paid 50% of the timber revenue in this project. That way they have another source of income instead of needing to clear the vital forest to survive financially.

To increase self-sustainability, the farmers practice intercropping. This means using the same land for different things, like different plants, etc. They can replant the most important species of trees to restore the forest but still on the same crop plant food, conserving the biodiversity of the Amazon. Today the farmers are planting things such as coffee, cacao, and citrus fruits, with the help of the project. This intercropping provides both short-term income (food) and long-term income (timber) for the farmers. 

Let’s make our planet a greener place—together

We look forward to continuing our positive impact on the environment by working together with you, our users. You can take a step back and know, you are doing good, we are doing good together. 

If you’re interested in reducing your business’s carbon footprint with Contractbook, here’s more info.