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Forest management and reforestation - Yucatan, Mexico
Located in the biodiverse heart of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, the X-Hazil project is a best-in-class example of how indigenous-led forest management can drive transformative outcomes for climate, biodiversity and local communities. Spanning nearly 55,000 hectares, this initiative combines native reforestation, improved forest management, and a community-owned governance model to deliver carbon removal, species conservation, and social empowerment at scale.
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Project information
The X-Hazil project
This project operates in Ejido X-Hazil y Anexes, within Quintana Roo, Mexico. Designed to run from 2021 to 2120, this initiative leverages improved forest management and native reforestation to sequester carbon and remove tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere. While carbon credit generation focuses solely on above-ground biomass, the project also avoids deforestation from illegal logging, urbanisation and tourism-driven agriculture.
Biologically, it lies within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, linking the Sian Ka’an and Calakmul Biosphere Reserves. This location supports 158 native tree species and iconic fauna like jaguars and Baird’s tapirs. Socially, the land is communally owned by 393 ejidatarios, 11% of whom are women. Economic benefits are distributed equitably, supporting both livelihoods and essential services like healthcare and education, while maintaining long-term stewardship through 100-year carbon permanence contracts.
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Intervention
Improved forest management
Location
Mexico
Standard
Mexican Forest Protocol of the Climate Action Reserve (CAR)
Sustainable Goals
Project performance
The Earthly rating
The Earthly rating is the industry-first holistic project assessment. Earthly researchers analyse 106 data points, aggregating information across the three vital pillars of carbon, biodiversity and people. Projects in Earthly's marketplace all exceed a minimum score of 5/10.
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Carbon
~190,000
tonnes of CO₂ removed annually.
Biodiversity
158
native tree species found within the project area
Social
48%
of the revenue is shared with the ejido
Project impact
Local impact
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The image shows forest loss within and around the project area from 2011 to 2023. The project zone, outlined in white, marks where carbon sequestration activities occur. While some deforestation is visible inside the boundary, most forest loss has occurred outside the project area, both before and after the project began.
Dataset used: Hansen Global Forest Change (2011-2023) modified
Project area: through time
Deforestation in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is accelerating due to expanding tourism, illegal logging and agricultural conversion, placing immense pressure on one of the world’s most biodiverse forest regions. This project is an Improved Forest Management initiative, not a forest avoidance project, and it does not receive credits for avoided deforestation. Instead, it generates carbon removal credits solely from measurable forest growth through sustainable harvesting and native species regeneration.
Nonetheless, by reinforcing community-based forest governance and introducing active management practices, the project is effectively safeguarding the forest from increasing external threats, including infrastructure development such as the Tren Maya railway, which is rapidly accelerating land-use change in the region. Through fire mitigation, biodiversity monitoring, and reinvestment of carbon revenues into local services, the project strengthens ecological resilience and serves as a critical buffer against deforestation pressures, while maintaining a conservative crediting approach rooted in removals.
Positive for people
Rooted in indigenous governance, the X-Hazil project exemplifies equitable development. Owned by 393 ejidatarios, it guarantees land tenure and full participation through Ejido Assemblies and workshops. Women have leadership roles, and decisions are informed by Mayan traditions and languages. Despite challenges such as low quorum in meetings and exclusion of non-ejidatarios, the project promotes inclusivity by involving local workers and holding participatory charrettes.
The project reinvests 48% of carbon revenues into the community, 30% directly to ejidatarios, and 18% for healthcare, education and infrastructure. Investments have created jobs (e.g., 24 in forest inventory), supported traditional beekeeping, and provided emergency support services. A grievance mechanism ensures accountability, while free prior and informed consent (FPIC) underpins all community engagement.
Educational efforts include environmental workshops, with future goals to expand KPIs and formal theory of change. Health resilience is fostered through ecosystem services, clean air, moderated temperatures and fire risk reduction, alongside plans for improved healthcare funding. While still evolving, the project's livelihood impacts are significant, providing immediate financial relief and a path toward long-term sustainable development through local capacity-building and climate adaptation.
Good for earth
The X-Hazil project targets biodiversity threats and climate pressures through a blend of ecological restoration and strategic land management. By implementing improved forest management (IFM), it avoids overexploitation and enhances forest resilience through selective harvesting, controlled thinning and genetic quality selection. Native reforestation of species such as mahogany, cedar, sapodilla and ramón (totalling 5,000 trees in 2021–2022 alone) ensures the continuity of native biodiversity.
The project actively mitigates fire, pest and disease risks by establishing firebreaks (up to 11km in 2022), maintaining fire brigades and conducting regular patrols. FSC and WHC certifications promote environmental integrity. Monitoring includes annual satellite and field-based assessments using the CALCBOSK tool and camera traps to track flora and fauna, including protected species like jaguars and pumas.
While leakage beyond the project’s geographic scope is a concern, the initiative monitors tree cover via i-tree and adjusts harvesting to mitigate emissions displacement. With carbon permanence contracts spanning 100 years and a 29.4% risk buffer, the project guarantees long-term carbon storage and environmental co-benefits, contributing significantly to climate regulation, soil stability and ecological connectivity across the Yucatán Peninsula.
How we assess for quality
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