SunMint Program Design Document (PDD)
Project Title: SunMint
Project Proponent: TrueSight DAO / Agroverse InitiativeProject Type: Reforestation and Agroforestry-Based Carbon SequestrationRegions: Amazon and Atlantic Rainforests, BrazilProject Duration: 30 years (renewable crediting period)
1. Project Description
SunMint is a regenerative finance (ReFi) initiative under TrueSight DAO’s Agroverse program. It partners with small-scale farmers and Indigenous communities in Brazil’s Amazon and Atlantic rainforests to restore degraded lands through sustainable agroforestry—primarily via cacao cultivation. By financing upfront costs and verifying on-the-ground actions, SunMint enables participants to transition away from extractive practices toward nature-positive livelihoods, generating certified carbon credits along the way.
TrueSight DAO is founded with the purpose of building a better world based on compassion. Our core values are mindfulness, compassion, and equanimity.
2. Purpose and Objectives
Restore degraded lands and increase carbon sequestration through agroforestry
Improve local livelihoods by providing upfront financing and long-term revenue through carbon credits and cacao exports
Promote biodiversity, soil health, and ecosystem regeneration
Re-integrate Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices into land stewardship
Establish transparent, digital MRV systems using decentralized technology
3. Project Boundary
Geographic Scope: Select parcels within Brazil’s Amazon and Atlantic Rainforests
Temporal Scope: 30 years, with ongoing monitoring and periodic verification
Carbon Pools Considered: Aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, soil organic carbon
4. Baseline Scenario
The baseline condition reflects continued degradation from cattle ranching and monoculture soybean farming, leading to biodiversity loss, GHG emissions, and disrupted ecosystems. Without intervention, these lands are unlikely to recover naturally due to lack of financial incentives and entrenched economic pressures.
5. Additionality
Small-scale farmers and Indigenous communities face a major barrier: cacao trees take ~1.5 years to bear fruit, creating a gap in income. Without financial and technical support, transitioning to agroforestry is not feasible. SunMint overcomes this through:
Upfront financing and DAO-based benefit sharing
Long-term cacao buyer partnerships
On-chain MRV tools that streamline carbon certification
6. Project Activities
Site Selection & Preparation
Conduct feasibility studies on land use rights and logistics
Environmental impact assessments and permitting
Prepare land with biodiversity-sensitive restoration strategies
Agroforestry Implementation
Plant cacao trees with native support species
Install water access and irrigation systems
Apply organic, regenerative practices and integrated pest management
Carbon Credit Development
Apply relevant methodologies (e.g., Verra VM0017, ARR)
Quantify sequestration via biomass surveys and soil sampling
Submit for third-party validation and registry certification
Cacao Production and Export
Harvest and sell cacao beans to ethical chocolate makers
Create marketing around social and environmental impact
Secure offtake agreements for price stability
Monitoring & Evaluation
Establish plots and satellite-based tracking
Regular soil, biomass, and biodiversity sampling
Social and environmental impact assessments
Community Engagement
Partner with Indigenous and local farming communities
Implement participatory governance via TrueSight DAO
Provide training and ongoing capacity-building
7. Traceability and Digital Verification
All project activities are logged and verified via open-access, on-chain tools:
Farm Registration: https://dapp.truesight.me/register_farm.html
Tree Planting Reporting: https://dapp.truesight.me/report_tree_planting.html
Public Registries:
Each record includes:
Timestamped evidence
Farmer identity and location
Photos and optional GPS metadata
Public auditability to reduce fraud risk
8. GHG Emissions Reduction Estimation
Estimates to be finalized with baseline data and methodology selection.
Expected sequestration: X tCO₂e per hectare per year
Initial project area: Y hectares
Total expected reduction: X × Y tCO₂e annually
9. Leakage
To prevent displacement of deforestation activities:
Target already-degraded lands (not pristine forests)
Engage communities with sustainable income alternatives
Monitor surrounding regions for indirect land use change
10. Environmental and Social Safeguards
Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) with Indigenous communities
No forced or child labor
Equal access and benefit-sharing for all genders
Grievance redress channels
Biodiversity conservation zones integrated into farm design
11. Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Risk
| Mitigation
|
Drought/Climate Events
| Use resilient native species; establish water harvesting systems
|
Market volatility for cacao
| Long-term contracts and diversified buyers
|
Political/regulatory instability
| Align with local NGOs; legally recognized farmer cooperatives
|
Verification delays
| Use real-time on-chain verification tools to streamline certification
|
12. Scaling and Replication Strategy
Following pilot validation, SunMint aims to:
Expand to 10,000+ hectares across Amazon and Atlantic regions
Replicate in other tropical forest regions (e.g., Congo Basin, Southeast Asia)
Offer on-chain carbon credit issuance and transparent benefit sharing via DAO governance