The Philippines has lost nearly two-thirds of its forests since 1900. Over 1,600 species face extinction. Negros Island sits at the centre of that crisis — upland land stripped bare, communities with no economic alternative to land degradation.
Candlewick's Visayas Reforestation Project is a 40-year, 30,000-hectare restoration program built on a simple principle: forest recovery only sticks when the communities living inside it have a direct stake in its success. The project is restoring degraded forests by planting native and endangered species which are suited to the island’s diverse climate and soil conditions.
Native species are planted at 1,600 seedlings per hectare using seeds sourced from geotagged mother trees on the island. A mechanised nursery produces 25 million saplings per year. Community organisations do the planting and maintenance. Independent auditors certify the carbon under Verra's VCS and CCB standards. Carbon credit revenue funds the next phase of planting and directly supports community education, healthcare, and livelihoods.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Employment in planting, maintenance, and monitoring. AUSAID-backed agricultural cooperative program expanding across six community groups. Education, medical, and disaster-preparedness investment funded through carbon revenue as the project matures.
COMREL support programs often resultin community benefits such as:
(1) Increased Employment
(2) Enhanced Peace and Order
(3) Development of Cooperatives(4) School Assistance for Children(5) Medical and Health Assistance(6) Sustainable Livelihood Programs
Community organizations establish and maintain restoration forests by planting trees that are independently audited, accredited, and certified under internationally recognised voluntary carbon standards. The certified carbon offset credits generated by these forests are then sold in international carbon markets, with the proceeds reinvested into local education initiatives, sustainable livelihoods, and the continued expansion of restoration efforts through further tree planting.
Contact us and let's build a more sustainable future together.
