We search high and low to identify the strongest projects around the world – the projects that have the largest impact per dollar spent. We look at each project's ability to sequester carbon, as well as its effect on natural habitats and indigenous communities. We look at the breakthrough technologies that can scale their solutions in record time. We do this carefully and critically to ensure a process built on integrity.

Mangroves are one of the most effective and economic methods of absorbing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.

Mangroves are tropical trees that thrive in conditions most trees could never tolerate like salty, coastal waters, and the continual movement of the tide. Studies show that Mangroves sequester carbon at a rate 2-4 times greater than mature tropical forests. Mangroves are also a key part of coastal ecosystems, providing shelter to wildlife in the regions they are planted.

In Madagascar, the initial survival rate at our mangrove restoration projects exceeds 80%. However, between years three and five the young mangrove trees begin to produce their own propagules (baby mangrove trees) resulting in a proliferation of natural regeneration. Multiple studies demonstrate the initial survival rate combined with natural regeneration results in a luxuriant impact ranging between 150%-500%.

Ecodrive’s planting team leaders have developed reliable systems which count and sort the number of seedlings produced in the nurseries and or mangrove propagules collected. They then plant the seedlings and prorogues within designated sites.

A percentage of seedling and propagule mortality is (of course) inevitable. What we have discovered is mortality becomes irrelevant as natural regeneration begins to occur and begins to multiply impact. At our mangrove sites, natural regeneration typically exceeds 200% of the original number planted. Nature finds a way whenever humans cooperate.

A footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses that are generated by our actions. Our spending habits, the way we travel, how we grow and eat our food, and how we power our homes, all generate a carbon footprint. The more carbon released into the atmosphere, the greater the greenhouse effect. Similar to what happens when a car has its windows closed under the sun - CO₂ keeps heat from escaping the atmosphere.

Collectively, we add 51 billion tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year. To keep climate change below 2 degrees Celsius, as agreed upon in the Paris Agreement, we need to reduce global emissions by 1-2 billion tons annually by 2050. Learn more here.

The Earth's atmosphere is similar to a bathtub. The faucet represents human activity, and the water from the faucet represents the greenhouse gasses human activity releases into the atmosphere each year. The drain describes natural methods of sequestering, like trees absorbing our CO₂. Human activities release more CO₂ into the atmosphere than the Earth can sequester, similar to having more water than the drain can empty. Not only do we need to reduce the water flow into the tub, but just as importantly, we must empty the existing water in the tub as quickly as possible to avoid a climate catastrophe.

Transportation and electricity production makes up 52% of all emissions in the United States. Transportation, which accounts for 27% of total emissions, primarily comes from burning fossil fuels for our cars, trucks, ships, trains, and planes. 60% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mainly coal and natural gas, making electricity production the second largest method of greenhouse emissions at 25% of total emissions in the US.

A carbon offset is a reduction or removal of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses made to compensate for emissions released elsewhere. The goal of an offset is to first calculate the amount of carbon dioxide released because of your activities, and then pull or replace the equivalent amount of CO2 somewhere else.

No, offsets alone cannot save us from climate change - but it is a great place to start. While we can be conscious of our emissions and live as close to a carbon neutral life as possible, some emissions simply can’t be avoided. Carbon offsets allow you to account for those unavoidable emissions and help build projects to reduce our carbon footprint.

To calculate each person's carbon footprint, we based our calculations on the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), World Bank, and open source university data. Very soon, you'll be able to sync Salt with your favorite apps and more to calculate your footprint in real time! 

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