Project summary

Natural ecosystems in the municipalities of Baucau and Viqueque in Timor Leste have been severely depleted in the last century through intensive deforestation, slash-and-burn agriculture and heavy rains. This has led to degraded soil, increased frequency of landslides, weakened forest ecosystems and poor agricultural yields.

To address these challenges and reduce deforestation, the project, Transforming Rural Lives through Adaptation and Carbon Capture uses nature-based solutions to promote agroforestry in Timor Leste. The project delivers climate mitigation and adaptation benefits and focuses on individual and community behaviour change formalised through forest management plans that reduce destructive practices and improved forest management. In addition, the project will generate learning about Timor Leste’s ability to engage in carbon crediting schemes.

A partnership with the Aboriginal Carbon Foundation (AbCF) will facilitate farmer-to-farmer exchanges between Timorese farmers and Indigenous Australian carbon farmers to support mutual knowledge exchange, with an emphasis on Traditional Ecological Knowledge practices.

This project is funded under Component 2 of Climate Resilient by Nature (CRxN) via the Pacific Nature-Based Solutions Challenge.

Improving resilience of food systems and diversified food sources.

• 73,000 saplings planted and forest management plans finalised across ten sucos (villages).

• 1,400 women and 1,700 men are directly involved in this nature-based solution project.

• Agroforestry trainings have been attended by 643 participants.