Brazil Nut Concessions in Madre de Dios

REDD+ Brazil Nut Concessions

Peru | £4.55per CO2 tonne

This is a world-class REDD+ project focusing on rainforest conservation in the heart of Peru. Run by our partner Bosques Amazonicos SAC (BAM) this project aims to reduce deforestation in over 300,000 hectares of Peruvian Amazon and reduce millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere due to illegal deforestation.

In total over the whole period of the project, an estimated 64’668,764 tCO2e will be secured from deforestation as stored carbon within the trees and soil. BAM estimates that without this project deforestation would destroy approximately 34% of the project area by 2040.

BAM is a private, for-profit, company established in 2004. The project is a collaboration between BAM and over 400 Brazil nut concessions and land-owners who want to help protect their forest.

This project is certified by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) which means the project must meet certain standards and provide measurable results to show that the carbon within the rainforest has been secured and deforestation is not occurring.

Brazil Nuts being harvested © BAM

Brazil Nut Trees © BAM

José De La Cruz one of the Brazil Nut farmers benefitting from the REDD+ project © BAM

Good for Earth

Situated in the Madre de Dios region of Peru, an area known as Peru’s capital of biodiversity it is home to some of the world’s rarest wildlife. The project is recognised as providing exceptional benefits to biodiversity along with its large carbon benefits.

Deforestation is the second-largest source of carbon emissions after fossil fuels, with the rate of deforestation sadly still increasing despite huge efforts to stop it. The main drivers are land clearing for agriculture and illegal logging and mining. Therefore projects such as these are vital to protecting large areas of rainforest.

A REDD+ project stands for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. The idea is that by placing a price on a natural asset in this case the rainforest countries will take greater measures to protect it thereby reducing forest loss, increasing conservation management and increasing GHG removal.

Brazil nuts are an important part of forest conservation because they only grow on trees exclusive to these native forests, therefore if these areas are not protected local people could lose their main source of income.

Positive for people

This project has helped a total of 405 families in the area by establishing initiatives that increase the value of the healthy forest as well as making sure their income from sustainable brazil nut harvesting in maintained.

As part of the project, BAM is constructing a processing plant which will provide additional employment to the local people; a nursery which will produce 100,000 seedlings a year to maintain the Brazil Nut trees and contribute to reforestation efforts; and will help to train deforestation agents in more sustainable practices such as agroforestry.

Project Castañeros © BAM

Project Castañeros © BAM

Project Castañeros © BAM

Satellite Data

We will be providing live satellite data each month from the projects. Coming Soon.

Why this project?

Earthly are passionate about supporting the best nature-based solutions as confirmed by our science board. We feel REDD+ is a good step in reducing the amount of deforestation taking place in the Amazon.

The protection of existing carbon sinks such as the Amazon is vital in tackling the climate crisis as well as working with indigenous communities to ensure correct protection of the land as well as ensuring social development.