Ecology

Planting Empowerment works closely with local subsistence farmers, and our planting sites are located either in, or close to, their communities. We replant portions of their land that are degraded and not earning them any income. The rest of their land is free for them to pursue traditional practices such as agriculture or cattle ranching.

Planting Empowerment plants primarily native species such as mahogany, spanish cedar and cocobolo, which are indigenous to Panama and well-known by the locals. Planting 8-10 different species interspersed with teak ensures strong ecological diversity in our plantations and reduces our need to use chemicals to control pests and plagues. Diversifying the mix of species in a plantation also reduces overall investment risk.

Our innovative leasing model provides incentive to keep farmers on their land, and offsets their need to log virgin timber. Additionally, our indigenous partnering community Arimae has agreed to conserve two and-a-half hectares of their rainforest reserve for every hectare that PE plants on their land.