Why are you participating for Based LatAm?

I am participating in Based LatAm because I see the opportunity to take my urban reforestation work to the next level using blockchain technology. My project and volunteer initiative, Sembrando el Cambio, focuses on improving the green infrastructure of Lima. The region faces both environmental and social challenges that demand innovative solutions, and I believe blockchain can be a powerful tool to connect people, organize volunteer work, and ensure donations and efforts are transparent and effective.

My main motivation is to improve access to green spaces and increase citizen participation in these projects. Latin America has immense potential to integrate technology with ecological initiatives, and I aim to leverage my community of over 700,000 followers on social media to inspire others to join the cause. The platform built on Base will allow my volunteer organization to grow, optimizing reforestation management and providing a reward system that keeps volunteers engaged and motivated.

Additionally, I want to help build a future where technology and the environment work together to solve local problems like the lack of green spaces and low civic engagement.

What challenges are you focusing on?

My community faces two main challenges that my project aims to address:

Lack of green spaces in urban areas: Cities like Lima have very few green spaces due to uncontrolled urban growth and the lack of sustainable planning. Deforestation and climate change also worsen this problem. The consequences include loss of biodiversity, air pollution, and reduced quality of life.

Lack of coordination and motivation in volunteer efforts: Organizing volunteer work is challenging, especially when it comes to effectively mobilizing people. Participation is often inconsistent because volunteers don't always see the immediate impact of their contribution, and the absence of rewards can lead to long-term demotivation.

With the support of Base, I seek to address these challenges by facilitating the organization and tracking of reforestation efforts, allowing more people to participate and contribute effectively in their communities. This will help make our cities greener, more sustainable, and more livable.

How does your submission address this challenge?

My proposal tackles these challenges by creating an onchain platform that streamlines the organization of urban reforestation efforts and rewards participants for their contributions:

Efficient organization: Volunteers can register on the platform using Basenames and Smart Wallets, simplifying the sign-up process and activity management. They will be able to access information about planting events, receive updates, and coordinate with each other easily.

Onchain rewards: Volunteers will be rewarded with tokens and NFT certificates for their participation, providing them with tangible incentives to keep collaborating. These tokens can also be exchanged for perks like plants, events, or additional donations to local projects.

Transparent financing: The platform will allow individuals or businesses to donate directly to reforestation campaigns, providing the necessary resources to purchase trees, materials, and cover logistics. All transactions will be visible on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and building donor trust.

The potential impact of this platform is significant, as it not only addresses the lack of green spaces but also motivates more people to join the reforestation movement, fostering ecological responsibility within communities.

Challenges I ran into

One of the biggest challenges I encountered while developing this project was my lack of technical expertise with blockchain technology. Although I am a content creator and volunteer organizer, I had to learn how onchain platforms, smart wallets, and token rewards work to integrate these tools into my proposal

Another challenge was finding an effective way to motivate volunteers. While my community is large and committed, many become demotivated after participating in one or two reforestation activities, especially when they don’t see immediate results or when projects lack consistent funding. To overcome this, I developed an onchain reward system that not only motivates volunteers to keep contributing but also acknowledges their efforts and fosters a long-term emotional connection with the project.

Lastly, the lack of funding was an initial hurdle, as organizing reforestations requires significant resources (trees, transportation, tools). However, with support from initiatives like Based LatAm, I am hopeful that I will secure the necessary funding to expand the project and scale it to other communities in Latin America, overcoming this financial barrier.

Additional Features

My project Sembrando el Cambio began as an urban reforestation initiative in Lima, Peru, using social media to recruit volunteers. However, during the Buildathon, I added several new features to take the proposal to the next level by integrating onchain tools that enhance volunteer management and reforestation financing:

Digital wallets: I implemented the use of smart wallets to enable volunteers to easily register and participate in reforestation activities, as well as securely perform transactions.

NFTs for funding: I introduced NFTs to help secure funding for reforestation efforts, making donations more transparent and traceable through the blockchain.

Crypto rewards: I introduced a token-based reward system for volunteers, incentivizing their continued participation in ecological activities.