Decades of intensive grazing and uncontrolled clearing in northeastern Nicaragua have removed the forest structure that once moderated climate, protected soils and supported wildlife. Large areas have turned into exposed grasslands that dry out quickly, erode during heavy rains and offer little ecological function. This decline has degraded the buffer zones around the BOSAWAS Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest intact tropical forest reserves in Central America, leaving the surrounding landscape more vulnerable to climate extremes and continued degradation. The restoration effort responds by reintroducing trees through teak‑based agroforestry, natural regeneration and newly protected forest areas. Restoring diverse forms of tree cover helps the land retain moisture, rebuild shade and structure, and restart ecological processes that cannot recover on open pasture alone. As forest structure returns and ecological corridors reconnect, soils improve and the wider landscape becomes more resilient to deforestation and climate‑driven extremes, helping to protect a sensitive forest frontier essential to the region’s natural heritage.
The project is implemented by MLR Forestal across a diverse landscape where teak plantations, agroforestry systems and designated conservation areas form a single restoration programme. On 4,031 hectares of former cattle pasture, forest cover is restored through a mix of shaded cacao agroforestry, sustainably managed teak stands for long‑term carbon storage, and large areas of natural forest regeneration. This approach reconnects fragmented habitats and restores continuous tree cover across the landscape. To date, around 800 hectares have been restored through agroforestry, while more than 1,500 hectares are being developed as protected forest areas around BOSAWAS. The work is carried out in close collaboration with local communities, who are involved in monitoring, management and training in sustainable land use, ensuring that both forests and people build long‑term resilience together.
ORCA supports the project by channeling climate finance into the purchase of high‑quality carbon credits certified under the Verified Carbon Standard. These credits are based on independently measured and verified removals. Sylvera has assigned a strong BBB rating, reflecting the project’s high‑integrity performance in terms of additionality, permanence, and benefits for biodiversity and local communities. By offsetting through this project, your organisation helps accelerate the restoration of one of Nicaragua’s most ecologically significant regions. This strengthens long‑term forest recovery, enhances ecological connectivity around BOSAWAS, and supports the development of resilient landscapes shaped in partnership with local communities.
