Project update: The project was successfully registered with the American Carbon Registry (ACR), a voluntary carbon market standard, in April 2011. More information including the registered PDD can be accessed here: www.americancarbonregistry.org/carbon-registry/projects/afforestation-of-severely-degraded-lands-on-the-masiloka-peninsula-madagascar-with-cashew-plantations-and-multipurpose-trees 

[The below description is based on the Project Idea Note of June 2009]

The project activity consists of installing and managing an industrial cashew plantation (of 6mx6m density, total number of trees: 1 440 000) on sterile land with a severely degraded soil. The fertility enhancement is based on the use of legume plants with soil improving characteristics. The objective is to:

• Produce premium cashew nuts and cashew balm;
  
• Create a carbon sink;
  
• Create long-term employment, wealth and improve the living standards of the local population;
  
• Demonstrate that infertile lands can be developed in the form of perennial exploitation with sustainable and environmentally friendly management techniques. 
  

A pilot phase exists already, which has enabled the selection of 30 well-performing varieties of cashew and the installation of a 13 ha "bank” for future plantings. This pilot phase also led to the development of technical procedures (fertility improvement, treatments, maintenance of orchards) proven by numerous tests, and the documentation of good practices, instruction sheets and a monitoring system for the implementation of procedures.
 
It is foreseen to carry out all plantation activities in a period of six years, thereby arriving at a total planted area of 6000 ha. Apart from the 450 acres already planted, the implementation schedule is: 2010/550 ha, 2011/1000 ha, 2012/1000 ha, 2013/1000 ha, 2014/1000 ha, 2015/1000 ha. Preparations will be carried out throughout 2009. It is foreseen to stop applying liquid fertiliser after the 3rd year of planting. Irrigation is not foreseen. The project has a conservative profile, allowing us to limit the needs for fuel and other inputs. It is foreseen to regularly increase the production.
 
It is also envisaged to construct facilities for manual shelling, of which there will be nine in total. They will be gathered on three different sites and will be built according to the increase of the production system, itself depending on the planting dates and on the type of planted trees.
 
The choice of manual shelling is motivated by a low need for fossil fuels (recycling of nut shells as a fuel to generate the heat needed in the shelling process), the creation of jobs for the local community and the inclusion of women in the workforce, a better yield in almonds resulting in increased profit, a better planning of time and space according to the specific needs.
 
A market study was conducted during the pilot project as well a monitoring exercise regarding the market price for the sale of products. This data is regularly updated and has been included in a business plan.