SCALA
SCALA operates an integrated landscape project in Laos, combining plantation forestry, carbon capture, native forest conservation and restoration, farmer-driven agriculture and biochar manufacturing.
This hallmark project is 100% owned by SilviCarbon and embodies our mission of generating nature-based removals at scale with environmental integrity while also supporting local communities in the area.
We achieve this by applying the combined experience and expertise of the team, staying true to our commitments and setting a high standard for all nature-based carbon removal projects.
Slash-and-burn farming is the largest cause of CO2 emissions in Laos. SCALA addresses the issue from the root.
Slash-and-burn farming is the most common agricultural practice in Laos and consists of cyclical burning of all vegetation in an area of land to prepare it for food production. Slash-and-burn farming ranks as the number one cause of CO2 emissions in Laos.
At SCALA, we exclusively plant trees on heavily degraded land resulting from slash-and-burn agriculture, extensive bombardments and treatment with Agent Orange. We do this to remove CO2 from the atmosphere while regenerating the soil quality and avoiding further deforestation.
Agroforestry provides a sustainable alternative farming method to the harmful practice of slash-and-burn.
Agroforestry is an efficient land-use technique which combines forestry and agriculture by planting trees in rows and cultivating crops in between the trees, or using this space for livestock grazing (also known as silvopasture).
With agroforestry, SCALA provides a sustainable alternative to slash-and-burn farming while also supplying high-quality wood at competitive rates, reducing the incentive for illegal logging in the area.
This model provides safe and productive lands for villagers to cultivate, increased food security, protection of natural forests and economic benefits from wood commerce and employment opportunities.
UXO poses a great risk to rural communities. SCALA ensures the removal of UXO across the entire project area.
During the Vietnam War the US dropped 270 million cluster bombs on Laos, making Laos the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world.
The unexploded ordnance (UXO) continues to threaten the safety of Lao civilians, especially in the Southeast part of the country.
Since the end of the war, 20.000 people have been killed or maimed by the remaining bombs and 40% of the victims are children.
Due to the high costs associated with UXO clearance, the Lao government has only been able to remove 1% of all remaining bombs. SCALA hires professional teams to clear UXO from the entire project area, restoring the land to a safe and productive state.
We achieve long-term benefits through extensive communication and collaboration with local stakeholders.
Communication and collaboration with local stakeholders is essential and all of our projects uphold the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). This ensures that local stakeholders understand the implications of a project thoroughly before deciding whether to accept it.
SCALA maintains extensive communication throughout the operation of the project, fostering positive relationships with local communities and authorities and ensuring long-term benefits.
The project provides fair and safe employment in a rural area with very limited economic opportunities and widespread poverty.
SCALA also contributes to village funds aimed at improving the infrastructure in and around the villages. The funds are managed by village leaders with guidance from local governments.
Large-scale agroforestry projects like SCALA contribute to the national economy of Laos
SCALA and other large-scale agroforestry projects in Laos make significant contributions to the national economy by offering sustainable, high-quality wood products to international markets.
Laos offers fast growth-rates and large areas of available land, offering high potential for forestry projects like SCALA to contribute to economic development in Laos.
