What we do

A business solution to an environmental and social challenge.

Planting Empowerment offers impact investments in agroforestry projects that encourage sustainable natural resource management and create economic benefits for rural Panamanians.

Lacking the capital and technical knowledge to sustainably manage their land, rural Panamanians often migrate to a new plot of rainforest in search of better soil and pasture. Land-intensive reforestation enterprises add additional pressure by acting as ready purchasers of deforested land. We deploy patient capital in these communities to create another option.

Migratory tropical deforestation depletes valuable resources and leaves subsistence farmers with few options to benefit economically over the long term. We engage each piece of the equation to affect real progress:

People

Through mixed-species forestry we create a long-term economic model that encourages sustainable land stewardship.

We often hear about the environmental impact of tropical deforestation: global warming, species extinction and soil depletion. But deforestation is really a social problem. People depend on rainforests for food, shelter and income; but a lack of planning and perverse incentives drive short-term exploitation of these resources. Their immediate economic needs outweigh notions of preservation and sustainable land management.

Learn more about our local partners.

Planet

A consequence of migratory development is unchecked deforestation. Between 1990 and 2010, Panama lost an average of 27,050 hectares annually, or about 44,700 football fields. The Darien province is recognized by Conservation International as a threatened area for biodiversity. Slowing conversion of rainforest in this area is critical in preserving native flora and fauna, and preventing the emission of millions of tons of CO2.

While managed forestry doesn’t replicate the biodiversity of primary rainforests, we believe that it can mitigate tropical deforestation by reducing the economic dependency on rainforest resources. 70% of the trees we plant are native to Panama, and we practice “low impact” forestry by leaving existing vegetation standing and minimizing our use of chemical controls. Read more about environmental sustainability as part of our Equitable Forestry model.

Profit

Mitigating tropical deforestation requires significant amounts of capital. While well intentioned, many nonprofit conservation and developmental organizations only create limited impact because of their dependency on donations. Because of this limitation we fund our work through impact investments. Impact investments combine a traditional financial return with social and environmental benefits. Learn more about Planting Empowerment’s investments.