On the edge of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, three indigenous communities - Palma Real, Sonene, Infierno - and over 30 high conservation value species live in 591,851 hectares of landscape threatened by illegal mining, logging, ‘slash and burn’ agriculture, and infrastructure development.
This project addresses the local, economic drivers of deforestation and forest degradation by supporting the development of socially inclusive farming, land-use capacity building, and improved forest protection and surveillance of natural resources. Through conservation, protecting the rainforest ecosystem, and scaling up sustainable community forest management, the project significantly reduces global emissions.
VCS is a voluntary program where projects are issued credits known as Verified Carbon Units or VCU's, each equivalent to 1 tonne of CO2e.
The Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards evaluate land management projects.
In 2015, Tambopata-Bahuaja won the UNFCCC Momentum for Change Award for innovation and excellence in tackling climate change. The project does not only conserve and protect the landscape but also address the biggest drivers of deforestation, using a community approach and improving livelihoods. By demonstrating a scalable model of environmentally and socially sustainable land use, the project creates a productive barrier against threats to the region’s natural and human capital.