You don't have to be a tree hugger to plant a tree!
Most people agree that human-made Climate Change is a reality and that it is caused by increasing concentrations of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. This is largely caused by our burning of fossil fuels (to generate electricity, power, heat and run our homes, industry and modes of transport) and mass deforestation of forests and woodlands.
What IS Carbon Offsetting?
By donating trees to the communities of Boyo Division you personally can help reverse this trend, not only by cancelling out the CO2 emmissions that you're responsible for in your daily life by planting trees to "soak up" your own current carbon footprint but you can also help replace woodlands already lost and soak up carbon dioxide emmitted in the past or indeed the future...Last year we replanted an ancient forest in Abuh with 1200 native tree seedlings.
Because generally speaking one ton of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere in Cameroon has largely the same positive effect on the fight against Climate Change as, say, one removed in Cardiff, Cairo or Cataluna we are able to make a postiive personal contribution to the environment but at a much smaller cost!
But isn't this pointless? The problem is so big - how can we make a difference?
Carbon Offsetting is not intended merely as being a way of allowing people to appease their consciences, allowing them to continue polluting the atmosphere indirectly by living high-carbon lifestyles safe in the knowledge that they've donated money to a small community in Africa to offset its effect. However, fossil fuels will not last forever and at some point we will, collectively as a society, have to make the transition to a low-to-zero-carbon economy. The Belo Carbon Offsetting Program is intended as a way of allowing people to make the (perhaps long) transition from a high-carbon, highly unsustainable lifestyle to a low-carbon, sustainable lifestyle without feeling totally powerless to do anything about climate change in the meanwhile!
Where does my money go?
The typical European is accountable for roughly 10 tons of CO2 emissions every year through general living habits. This is can vary alot but is generally increased if you drive more or drive a larger vehicle, take more flights and/or have a particularly inefficient home etc.
With a donation of just £35GBP/40€EUR we can donate on average 100 trees to the poor and community groups in the area. That's a massive donation of 100 trees to the local community that will help to offset your carbon footprint!
A £35 GBP donation is broken down like this:
Fruit trees for the poor = £18.55
Better soil fertility scheme for the poor = £4.31
Replanting of community forests = £5.60
Sustainable firewood = £0.94
Donation to local charity = £3.50
Costs (e.g. transport) = £2.10_
TOTAL = £35.00
*This assumes a conservative estimate of needing 10 trees to absorb 1 ton of CO2 over their lifetimes and an average annual carbon footprint of 10 tons of CO2.
