Gaviotas Carbon Offset Initiative

What is carbon?

Carbon is Nature’s building block. Everything that grows is built out of carbon. Carbon is also stored in great quantities in all fossil fuels. When carbon is in its solid form, as in a tree trunk or a vein of coal in the ground, it is harmless, and in fact profoundly helpful and supportive of life as we know it. When these sources of carbon are burned, carbon is transformed into a gas known as Carbon Dioxide or C02. Increasing accumulations of C02 in the earth’s atmosphere coupled with increasing emissions of other green house gases is responsible for the global warming crisis we now face as a global community.

What is a “carbon footprint”?

The term “carbon footprint” refers to the amount of carbon (C02) we emit individually in any one-year period. C02 is produced from many sources and is the primary gas responsible for Global warming and the resulting alarming changes in our climate. Nearly everything we do in our modern society requires energy. This energy is generated primarily by burning fossil fuels. From all sources, the average American is responsible for approximately 19-21 tons of carbon emissions annually. This is an average. For some Americans, this tonnage is less. For others, it is considerably more. The US as a whole is responsible for emitting 25% of all global green house gas emissions every year while we are only 5% of the world’s population.

Why offset one’s carbon footprint?

It is important for us all to think in terms of first reducing our emissions of C02. As one begins this process, it soon becomes evident that there is no way we can currently reduce our emissions of green house gases to zero. Every single aspect of our economy from manufacturing to transportation, and agriculture to health care is dependent on fossil fuel derived energy and resources. As we seek and develop alternative sources of energy, and as we begin to think and live in more efficient ways, we are still left with the undeniable reality that considerable C02 emissions from economic activity in the US will continue and perhaps escalate for the foreseeable future. The only current way to address this issue head on is to offset the emissions we cannot yet eliminate.

Why offset your carbon emissions with carbon offsets from Las Gaviotas?

The eco-village known as Las Gaviotas is a research center located in eastern Colombia, South America. It is the only project in the world with a twenty-three year track record of the sustainable regeneration of tropical rain forest. As of this year, Las Gaviotas will have successfully reforested 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) of fully canopied, poly-culture rain forest.

The results of this success are many. They include:

• Pure drinking water.
• 10% increase in annual rainfall.
• Dramatically decreased surface soil temperatures.
• Net cooling effect.
• Sustainable living wage economy for indigenous population.
• Development and use of alternative sources of energy.
• Proliferation of plant species, 253 at last count and rising.
• Sustainable sources of lumber, resin, cashew and bio-fuels.
• Sensible and sustainable management of natural resources.
• A model for sustainable third world rural development.

As a result of this success, Las Gaviotas has 144,000 tons of carbon offsets to offer on an annual basis. This tonnage of annual carbon sequestration is calculated using formulas developed in response to the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming known as the Kyoto Protocol. The 8,000 hectares of existing maturing tropical rain forest is the source for this annual tonnage of carbon offsets.

How do I offset my carbon emissions with offsets from Las Gaviotas?

The first step is to visit www.gaviotasoffsets.org. There is a link on that site to the EPA carbon calculator. Using that calculator you may calculate your exact carbon footprint. The result of this calculation will yield a number of tons of carbon that you need to offset to become “Carbon Neutral”. You may also offset the average American annual carbon footprint of 21 tons.

The second step is to convert the number of pounds of carbon into tons by dividing by 2,000 and then multiply the result by $7.

The third step is to donate that sum to the Gaviotas/Marion Institute Carbon Offset Initiative. This can be done by clicking the "Offset Your Carbon" button below, or by check or money order made out and mailed to the Marion Institute, 202 Spring Street, Marion, MA 02738.

Offset Your Carbon

How will my donation be spent?

90% of all donations received by the Marion Institute in support of this initiative will pass through directly to ZERI Eje Cafetero in Colombia to fund the planting regimen and related research at Las Gaviotas. 10% of the funds will remain with the Marion Institute to cover the costs of administering the program and to fund the ZERI Learning Initiative. The ZERI Learning Initiative is devoted to the training of teachers in how to teach systems thinking and sustainability to K-12 age school children throughout the US.

Who else is offsetting their carbon footprint?

Contact details:

Peter Dean
Email: psdean@comcast.net
Phone: 508.748.0816
Website: www.gaviotasoffsets.org