Chocó-Darién Conservation Corridor – Colombia

The Chocó-Darién Conservation Corridor leverages carbon credits to protect community-owned forests on Colombia’s Atlantic coast. The project uses carbon financing to address threats posed by cattle ranching, agriculture, and logging in territory that collectively belongs to a vibrant association of Afro-Colombian families. Using carbon revenues to fund activities designed to reduce deforestation, the project is protecting a forest rich in biodiversity while strengthening the wellbeing of a marginalized group.

Fast facts:

14 project activities directly responsible for reducing more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over two years;
13,465 hectares of tropical rainforest protected;
15 endangered plant species and at least 142 endangered animal species protected;
40 full and part-time jobs created;
Deforestation of around 216,000 trees prevented;

The problem

Physically and economically marginalized for more than three centuries, Afro-Colombians have adapted and learned to live peacefully in one of the most biodiverse tropical rainforests on the planet. However, these communities have been attacked and displaced from their lands by armed actors representing the interests of miners, cattle ranchers, and farmers. This represents not only a serious obstacle to development in the region, but an ongoing threat to the forest.

The solution

The project leverages the REDD+ carbon finance system to invest to protect the forest, strengthen cultural identity, and reduce vulnerability to armed groups in the Darién region of northwest Colombia. Project activities build governance capacity, improve forest enforcement and management, as well as agricultural and forest usage practices.

Regular community-led forest patrols conduct monitoring and detect unauthorized activities within the communal forests. Communities also work to restore previously occupied or degraded areas. The project also develops economic alternatives by identifying and increasing access to credit and markets for sustainable forest products.

Helping the planet

The project conserves tropical rainforest in the Chocó region, which is known for its extremely high plant endemism, and is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet. Project activities protect endemic and endangered plant and animal species, including Baird’s tapir, the great green macaw, the Colombian spider monkey and the golden poison dart frog. Halting the conversion of tropical rainforest to cattle ranches leaves trees standing to act as carbon sinks, preventing climate change and allowing this important strand of rainforest to continue its contribution of acting as lungs for the Earth.

Helping people

Through capacity-building, forest conservation, and resource management activities, this project has created jobs and improved incomes. It has also strengthened the dignity and territorial autonomy of this traditionally marginalized Afro-Colombian population.

Scaling up

This model is directly scalable to neighboring Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities throughout the Chocó region. In addition to scaling up the model in the Colombian Pacific, it is also being replicated in Afro-descendant landholder communities in the Pará state of the Brazilian Amazon. At the national level, project partners have contributed to national REDD+ policy development. The project is also pioneering the introduction of tax credits for environmental service projects in conjunction with international organizations and national tax authorities.