It is clear that planting rubber trees has widespread benefits and ensures the goals of the project are fully met. Rubber based agro-forestry involves a complex and diverse cropping system (or multi-cropping) that combines the growing of rubber and other agricultural crops in the area in a sustainable manner. We have carefully selected the highest yield rubber trees, with a mix of various clones to secure the most sustainable plantation practices. The project’s concept of 100% organic agricultural methods, will ensure maximum carbon absorption value, in addition to avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides made of carbon based raw materials.

According to Dr. N. Yoganathan, from the National Institute of Plantation Management, Sri Lanka, organic technologies being used in rubber plantations slows down soil Carbon oxidation and increases Carbon fixation and storage. Again, this provides maximum benefit for the project. A desirable rubber based cropping system will give economic yield while protecting the environment, conserving soil, water and nutrients. Perennial tree crops as in the case of forest trees are known to function as natural “sponges” for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon-sequestration is observed, through the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its conversion into cellulose and organic matter.

The rubber tree Hevea Braziliensis was first introduced as a crop for plantation agriculture many years ago from the wilderness of the Amazon jungles. Hence, Hevea behaves as a typical rain forest tree that would efficiently function in Carbon-sequestration. (The Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows a country which emits carbon dioxide and other GHG’s above agreed limits, to purchase carbon offsets from an entity that uses biological means to absorb or reduce greenhouse emissions). The CDM is currently offered for afforestation and reforestation projects, but it is expected that in the future this will be extended to carbon dioxide sequestration in agricultural soils. Markets for soil and plant carbon dioxide sequestration are also developing outside of the protocol in addition to those promoted by CDM.