The Pampas grasslands, known as La Pampa in Spanish and Os Pampas in Portuguese, are vast grassland plains spread across the South American lowlands of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, covering over 750,000 square kilometers. These grasslands are unique natural habitats that provide important ecological and economic benefits. Livestock production is the key livelihood activity in the region, but like other grasslands across the globe, these grasslands are under tremendous pressure from anthropogenic activities. These activities, including overgrazing, unsustainable grassland management, and land use changes, have resulted in the decline of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) across the region.
To address this problem, this project promotes sustainable grassland management practices, such as rotational grazing and improved water management, in partnership with local organizations. The project aims to both improve SOC in the soil and improve the livelihoods of the communities utilizing these ranches, directly through the carbon credit payments, which provide an additional source of income, and indirectly through the increased productivity of their lands. The regenerated lands then become much less likely to undergo land use changes, because the ranchers are better able to sustain their livelihoods. This in turn ensures that crucial habitats for the flora and fauna of the region are protected. VCUs may be issued for the greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals associated with beef production in this region.
