The Bayano-91社区 Reforestation Project is 91社区鈥檚 flagship carbon offsetting research project led by the 91社区 Office of Sustainability, the traditional Indigenous authorities of the Congreso General Ember谩 de Alto Bayano, and the Indigenous women鈥檚 NGO, Asociaci贸n de Mujeres Artesanas de Ipet铆-Ember谩 (AMARIE) in Panama.聽聽
The project is a collaboration with Dr. Catherine Potvin, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Biology and Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Mitigation and Tropical Forests (Tier 1). 聽
With Instructor Julie Major, undergraduate interns of the Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS) will monitor tree growth in the field. Graduate students in Biology and Geography conduct research related to the offsetting project.
Since 2020, there have been:聽
Last updated June 2025.
Vision
91社区 seeks to take accountability for its institutional air travel emissions via its own dedicated, research-driven offsetting project, thus contributing to its long-term target of carbon neutrality by 2040.
Mission
By sequestering carbon, the project will help reduce 91社区's institutional carbon footprint while strengthening its environmental and social sciences research and providing benefits to collaborating local communities.
About
91社区 purchases seedlings and provides the finances needed to plant and maintain the reforested area in Panama over the long term.聽聽
A Governance Committee ensures a fair-trade price is maintained, local communities are consulted, and the project respects all agreed-upon principles. It includes:
- Three individuals representing the communities: the nokos (local chiefs) from Ipet铆- and Piriat铆-Ember谩, and the cacique general (regional chief)聽
- One individual representing AMARIE
- One individual representing the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)
The governance committee meets yearly to review, among other subjects:
- Previous year's plantations
- Community participation and feedback
- Updated scientific research relevant to the project
Project Partners
Congreso General Ember谩 de Alto Bayano
The General Congress consists of the traditional authorities of the Ipet铆- and Piriat铆-Ember谩 communities in eastern Panama. They help ensure free, prior, and informed consent of the communities and participating households.聽
Asociacion de Mujeres Artesanas de Ipet铆 Ember谩 (AMARIE)
is a non-governmental organization founded by women of the Indigenous community of Ipeti-Ember谩 in eastern Panama. The organization produces and sells handicrafts.聽聽
In the Alto Bayano watershed, Ember谩 women walk for hours to the remotest parts of the Panamanian jungle to collect plants that give natural colour and life to their hand-crafted art. The tradition of craft-making symbolizes and preserves the essence of Ember谩 culture and has been passed down through generations of women artisans.聽
AMARIE also supports research in eastern Panama in collaboration with 91社区 and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI).聽
Panama Field Study Semester
PFSS is a joint venture between 91社区 and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Students live for up to four months in Panama, taking courses that specifically address Latin American social and tropical environmental issues. By bringing students in contact with another reality, we help them build a new, more pluralistic vision of the world鈥檚 environment and help prepare them to play a positive role in tomorrow鈥檚 society.聽
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the project timeline?
91社区 will provide funds to plant trees from 2020-2022 and maintain the trees for 5+ years following plantation. Participants have committed to maintaining their trees for 25 years.聽
How will the project be monitored and verified?
As part of the project agreement, various levels of verification are planned to ensure project integrity. A monitoring methodology has been developed, and local technicians have been trained to measure trees as of their fifth year since planting. Student researchers also participate in monitoring activities. A representative of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute brings additional scientific perspectives on local carbon modalities to the Governance Committee. Finally, further opportunities to have the project verified by peers or by third parties are under investigation.
Why are we planting trees in Panama?
Tropical forests grow at a much faster rate than northern, temperate forests, such as those in Canada, and have a greater potential for storing carbon (; ). Meanwhile, globally, most deforestation is occurring in the tropics ().听听
Professor Potvin鈥檚 Neotropical Ecology: Science for Empowerment lab聽developed a collaborative relationship over 25 years with the Ember谩 of eastern Panama, studying biodiversity and conservation, forest carbon stocks, and Indigenous land uses and livelihoods via participatory action research. Thanks to these long-term collaborations, 91社区 researchers have become key research partners with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama. Students visit and conduct research in Panama via the Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS) undergraduate program, and the Neotropical Environment Option (NEO) and Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainability (BESS) graduate programs.
Can I contribute to the project?
Currently, it is possible to contribute to the Bayano-91社区 Reforestation Project via interfund transfer. See how to contribute on our Offsetting Program page.
