What it is
Plan Vivo is a carbon standard focused on community-first agroforestry and restoration projects in the Global South. Unlike compliance-oriented standards, Plan Vivo prioritizes smallholder livelihoods alongside carbon outcomes. Over 10,000 participants across 30+ projects have generated 2.2 MtCO2 in verified reductions. The standard uses the RothC-based SHAMBA tool for soil carbon estimation.
Why we picked this
Most carbon standards were designed for large-scale industrial projects. Plan Vivo was built from the ground up for smallholder communities, ensuring that carbon credit revenue reaches the farmers and land stewards doing the work. In a voluntary carbon market increasingly focused on integrity, Plan Vivo's community-first approach represents the model for equitable climate finance.
Key takeaways
- Plan Vivo has generated 2.2 MtCO2 in verified reductions across 30+ projects, with revenue flowing directly to participating communities.
- The standard's SHAMBA tool provides soil carbon estimation specifically calibrated for smallholder agroforestry systems in tropical contexts.
- Plan Vivo projects must demonstrate community governance and benefit-sharing, preventing the carbon colonialism patterns seen in some large-scale offset projects.