Through participatory agreements with Ejidos — communally owned lands managed collectively by local members — the projects work to restore over 50,000 hectares of degraded forest and protect healthy forest for the long term. Designated conservation zones form the foundation of this effort, supported by restoration activities designed to build carbon stocks, improve biodiversity, and establish sustainable, community‑based forest management for future generations.

These activities include installing firebreaks and other fire prevention measures to safeguard against wildfire; monitoring and preventing the spread of tree diseases and pests; and reintroducing depleted native species to revive ecosystem health. Together, these actions protect existing carbon stocks while increasing the forest’s ability to remove and store carbon over the long term.

The program also prioritises building local skills and creating employment. Community members are trained and engaged in all aspects of restoration work, forest monitoring, and biodiversity assessments — including innovative eDNA sampling to track soil and water health. In this way, the projects combine ecological restoration with socio‑economic development, strengthening conservation outcomes while delivering tangible benefits to the people who depend on the forest most directly.

The Yucatán forest restoration projects are designed around six integrated pillars that uphold ecological integrity, community ownership, and transparent governance. At their centre is the restoration of forest landscapes through targeted fire management, enrichment planting, and regeneration of native species that boost long‑term carbon removals while enhancing biodiversity. Areas of forest are formally designated for long‑term conservation through participatory planning within the Ejido system, with all decisions made in open Assembly, ensuring the full consent and involvement of the community.

Biodiversity protection is embedded in the program, with actions to safeguard habitats for species such as the jaguar and black howler monkey, and to monitor ecosystem health using advanced tools like eDNA sampling. Project governance is anchored in accountability, with all activities meeting the rigorous requirements of the Climate Action Reserve’s Mexico Forest Project Protocol (v3.0) to ensure additionality, permanence, and conservative carbon accounting. Finally, a dedicated benefit‑sharing framework ensures that revenues from carbon sales are directed towards community‑determined priorities — from forest protection activities to income‑generating ventures such as beekeeping, eco‑tourism, and targeted employment opportunities for women and youth.

The Yucatán forest restoration activities align with the UNFCCC Cancun Safeguards, ensuring that projects respect Indigenous rights, protect biodiversity, and operate with transparency and accountability.

1. Participatory decision-making: Ejidos join projects only after a robust, multi‑meeting process in which all members learn about carbon market requirements, legal obligations, and financial benefits.

2. Community governance: Key decisions about land use, project participation, and financial management require Ejido Assembly approval by vote.

3. Rights and benefit-sharing: Funds from carbon sales are invested back into community priorities, supporting sustainable livelihoods and initiatives such as beekeeping, eco‑tourism, and employment for youth and women.

4. Environmental safeguards: Activities prevent and manage fire, disease, and pests, while monitoring programs safeguard biodiversity and guide adaptive management.