Ketrawe Foundation

Ketrawe, meaning “fertile land”, is dedicated to creating windbreak forests, which offer numerous environmental benefits.

Nestled within Bolivia's agricultural matrix lies HDS1 Evergreen Broadleaf Forest, which has remained at least 30-years undisturbed, a critical reservoir of biodiversity facing pressure from expanding sugarcane cultivation.

Ketrawe Foundation is all about claiming the forest back from agriculture and cattle raising. The task is to convince farmers that trees are their best allies instead of an enemy that occupies productive land and eats up their yields.

In that sense Ketrawe Foundation has developed and pioneered a unique planting system with native and exotic trees which is a fusion between windshields and traditional tree plantations, this model allows farmers to add value to their land, while they increase their agricultural yields and on top of that enhance water conditions, fertility and reduce erosion. This system has worked beautifully and has proven to be a success story that is being voluntarily and widely adopted by many farmers. The end product is a higher land value, increased income of farmer families, reduction of forest fires, positive environmental and social impact; the key for success has been to balance out a profitable synergy between farmers, agriculture, trees and environment.

Credit Stock

Current credit stock is for the 2023 vintage. Please view the image gallery for monthly breakdowns of carbon sequestration over this period.

Threats to Forest Integrity

The dominant land use in the region is sugarcane production, an economically important activity that drives deforestation. The subject forest is under imminent threat of conversion to agricultural land, jeopardizing its biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides. This land-use change would result in habitat loss, fragmentation of wildlife populations, and a reduction in carbon storage capacity.

Impacts and benefits

- Getting the forest back in places where it was chopped out before November 1994 in the form of wide windbreakers which are also used as a habitat for wildlife and/or biological corridors
- Genetic recovery of native species
- Reproducing seedling by using seeds from selected trees that have good genetic qualities
- Windshields help the farmers to increase their agricultural yields between 9% and 32%, meaning a substantial economic impact for peasant families in the field and agriculture as a whole

Ecological Value

- Increased crop productivity per hectare
- Reduced need for chemical fertilizers
- Stabilization of water cycles
- Improved humidity conditions
- Minimized flood effects
- Prevention of wind erosion
- Increases on-farm productivity and minimizes agricultural risks

Biodiversity Impact

This intact forest ecosystem supports a diverse assemblage of flora and fauna, including primate species, reptiles such as crocodiles and various snakes, avian populations, and vital pollinators like bees. The intricate ecological relationships within this forest contribute to its resilience and highlight its importance as a key component of regional biodiversity.

Furthermore, the forest provides critical ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, watershed protection, and soil stabilization, which are essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring environmental sustainability.

Social Impact

Agroforestry redefines the farmer-forest relationship and provides income for diversified communities. By integrating trees into farming, farmers unlock economic and ecological benefits, increasing profitability and promoting sustainability.

Methodology ISO14064-3

dMRV CarbonSpace v1.1 audited by Control Union.
Compatible with ISO14000-s, the GHG Protocol and SBTi’s FLAG Guidance.