TY - BOOK
T1 - Smallholder Farmers and the Voluntary Carbon Market: A Balancing Act
T2 - Navigating Pricing, Co-Benefits, and Challenges
AU - Lema, Rasmus
AU - Bedoya Vargas, Liliana
AU - Diaz Gonzalez, Abel
AU - Lachman, Jeremias
AU - Maes - Anastasi, Antonella
AU - Kumar, Parveen
AU - Wong, Pui Hang
A2 - Amar, Sidi
A2 - Cörvers, Ron
A2 - Mensing, Niklas
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - Smallholder farmers are key players in global climate action, yet their participation in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) remains constrained by financial, structural, and governance challenges. This report provides an in-depth examination of the VCM’s structure, key stakeholders, and pricing mechanisms, highlighting smallholders' opportunities and barriers in accessing this market. Through two case studies—the Jinotega & Matagalpa Project in Nicaragua and the Quilombolas Social Carbon Project in Brazil—the report illustrates different value chain models and governance structures that influence benefit generation and distribution for smallholder farmers. Findings suggest that tailored governance mechanisms, transparent pricing, and equitable value-sharing models are essential for enhancing smallholder participation. The report concludes with recommendations on optimizing compensation, improving governance, and ensuring long-term sustainability for farmers engaged in carbon-offsetting projects.
AB - Smallholder farmers are key players in global climate action, yet their participation in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) remains constrained by financial, structural, and governance challenges. This report provides an in-depth examination of the VCM’s structure, key stakeholders, and pricing mechanisms, highlighting smallholders' opportunities and barriers in accessing this market. Through two case studies—the Jinotega & Matagalpa Project in Nicaragua and the Quilombolas Social Carbon Project in Brazil—the report illustrates different value chain models and governance structures that influence benefit generation and distribution for smallholder farmers. Findings suggest that tailored governance mechanisms, transparent pricing, and equitable value-sharing models are essential for enhancing smallholder participation. The report concludes with recommendations on optimizing compensation, improving governance, and ensuring long-term sustainability for farmers engaged in carbon-offsetting projects.
M3 - Report
BT - Smallholder Farmers and the Voluntary Carbon Market: A Balancing Act
PB - Fair & Smart Data spearhead - Maastricht University
ER -