Microsoft has signed an agreement with Mexican startup Toroto to purchase more than 234,000 carbon credits from a major ecosystem restoration project in Campeche, Mexico. These carbon credits, generated through the Climate Action Reserve (CAR) Mexico Forest Protocol, represent the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The project, based in the Conhuás ejido in the Calakmul region, spans over 47,000 hectares of tropical rainforest and focuses on restoring the ecosystem in collaboration with local landowners. Since 2021, the initiative has supported carbon sequestration while protecting vital biodiversity, including endangered species like the Baird’s tapir and jaguar.
“For Toroto, Microsoft’s commitment to the Conhuás project represents a very important milestone for climate action in Mexico. They are setting an example on how the private sector can invest in nature through mechanisms that channel resources directly to the conservation and restoration of the rainforest, while the guardians of this rainforest, the Conhuás community, acquire the technical and financial capacities to continue caring for its regeneration,” says Santiago Espinosa de los Monteros Harispuru, CEO and Cofounder at Toroto.
“The Conhuás project is an example of the potential for community-led ecosystem restoration to drive positive climate impact. We are pleased to collaborate with Toroto to help incentivize both natural ecosystem restoration and community-led climate action,” said Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy and Carbon Removal at Microsoft.
“We are constantly learning about the value of ecosystem services provided by the rainforests of Conhuás. The community conducts workshops to revisit overlooked aspects and benefits of forest regeneration, including positive impacts to biodiversity, i.e. flora and fauna, and tree growth,” said Ruth Chávez, ejido member of Conhuás, regarding the environmental awareness process within the community.
The Conhuás ejido is adjacent to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, a protected area since 1989, and has the potential to act as a biological corridor for the second-largest rainforest in the Neotropics. Revenue from the sale of carbon credits is shared with the local community, who play a crucial role in safeguarding the environment.
“With this agreement, many people in the community will be able to benefit their homes, their families. We need to take good care of the rainforest, our flora and fauna, and protect the environment, which is our future,” adds Sabina Barrientos Carmona, an ejido member and part of the firefighting brigade at Conhuás, who, along with the rest of the community, received their compensation for the sale of the credits in June.
The project aims to promote sustainable forest management, improve livelihoods, and ensure the long-term health of the ecosystem, contributing to both climate action and community development.