The REDD+ Project Resguardo Indígena Unificado – Selva de Matavén (REDD+ RIU-SM) is a community-led initiative aimed at conserving the forests and biodiversity of the Indigenous Reservation of Selva de Matavén while improving the livelihoods of its Indigenous communities.

This 30-year undertaking (2013–2042) seeks to establish an integrated and sustainable management system for forests and lands, ensuring long-term ecological balance and cultural preservation. It is designed to mitigate deforestation threats by preventing unplanned forest degradation, conserving carbon stocks, and fostering sustainable land management.

Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) & Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Certification:

 The project adheres to VCS Version 4.7 and CCB Version 3.1 to ensure the highest environmental, social, and governance standards.

Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation and Degradation (AUDD):

 REDD+ RIU-SM focuses on preventing the loss of approximately 

 over its crediting period by preserving 

 The Indigenous Reservation of Selva de Matavén is a critical ecosystem located in Vichada, Colombia, at the transition belt between the Orinoco savannas and the Amazon rainforest—one of South America's most ecologically significant regions.

Sustainable Development & SD VISta Certification:

 The project aligns with the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta), ensuring social, economic, and environmental co-benefits, including poverty alleviation, food security, education, and clean energy access.

Compensation payments for ecosystem services provide direct financial support to Indigenous communities.

Implementation of sustainable agroforestry and alternative livelihoods programs, including: family Agro-Food Production Units (SUPAF), ecotourism, handicrafts programs, sustainable forestry and agro-silvopastoral systems.

Over 5,366 community members trained in governance, environmental conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.

Strengthening Indigenous women's leadership and economic empowerment initiatives.

The project protects critical habitats for endangered and endemic species in the Amazon-Orinoco transition zone.

It implements fire prevention and surveillance systems to control illegal deforestation and land degradation.

The project establishes biodiversity reserves and conserves wildlife corridors essential for ecosystem connectivity.

The REDD+ RIU-SM project represents a model for Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable development. By securing long-term financing through carbon credits and ecosystem services compensation, the project not only preserves one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Colombia but also ensures a thriving future for its Indigenous communities.

The project is continuously monitored and verified under international climate and sustainability standards, reinforcing its credibility and impact on climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, and socio-economic resilience.

The carbon credits for this project are issued by Verra under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, one of the world’s most widely used GHG crediting programs. Verra’s programs offer comprehensive methodologies and frameworks that support the design and implementation of carbon reduction, sustainable development, and plastic waste reduction projects globally.

REDD+ Project Resguardo Indígena Unificado–Selva de Mataven (REDD+ RIU-SM) aims to develop a participatory process to achieve the establishment of an integrated management system of forests and lands of the reserve, to ensure its sustainability and to mitigate threats of its conservation, particularly avoiding deforestation through the implementation of a REDD+ Project (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation + conserving carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest reserves in developing countries) that allows providing compensation payments for ecosystem services. The technology corresponds to a REDD Project in accordance with standards established by the VCS. Specifically an activity “Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation and Degradation (AUDD)”. The Indigenous Reservation is located east of the high plain Orinoco Colombian region in the transition belt between the savannas of the Orinoco and the Amazon forests, in Department of Vichada

The REDD+ Project Resguardo Indígena Unificado – Selva de Matavén (REDD+ RIU-SM) is a community-led initiative aimed at conserving the forests and biodiversity of the Indigenous Reservation of Selva de Matavén while improving the livelihoods of its Indigenous communities.

This 30-year undertaking (2013–2042) seeks to establish an integrated and sustainable management system for forests and lands, ensuring long-term ecological balance and cultural preservation. It is designed to mitigate deforestation threats by preventing unplanned forest degradation, conserving carbon stocks, and fostering sustainable land management.

Key Features and Standards

- Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) & Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Certification: The project adheres to VCS Version 4.7 and CCB Version 3.1 to ensure the highest environmental, social, and governance standards.
- Avoiding Unplanned Deforestation and Degradation (AUDD): REDD+ RIU-SM focuses on preventing the loss of approximately 108,670,562 tCO₂ emissions over its crediting period by preserving 1,150,212 hectares of forested land.
- Location: The Indigenous Reservation of Selva de Matavén is a critical ecosystem located in Vichada, Colombia, at the transition belt between the Orinoco savannas and the Amazon rainforest—one of South America's most ecologically significant regions.
- Sustainable Development & SD VISta Certification: The project aligns with the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta), ensuring social, economic, and environmental co-benefits, including poverty alleviation, food security, education, and clean energy access.

Project Co-Benefits

1. Community & Economic Benefits

- Compensation payments for ecosystem services provide direct financial support to Indigenous communities.
- Implementation of sustainable agroforestry and alternative livelihoods programs, including: family Agro-Food Production Units (SUPAF), ecotourism, handicrafts programs, sustainable forestry and agro-silvopastoral systems.
- Over 5,366 community members trained in governance, environmental conservation, and sustainable livelihoods.
- **Strengthening Indigenous women's leadership** and economic empowerment initiatives.

2. Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation

- The project protects critical habitats for endangered and endemic species in the Amazon-Orinoco transition zone.
- It implements fire prevention and surveillance systems to control illegal deforestation and land degradation.
- The project establishes biodiversity reserves and conserves wildlife corridors essential for ecosystem connectivity.

Long-Term Vision & Sustainability

The REDD+ RIU-SM project represents a model for Indigenous-led conservation and sustainable development. By securing long-term financing through carbon credits and ecosystem services compensation, the project not only preserves one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Colombia but also ensures a thriving future for its Indigenous communities.

The project is continuously monitored and verified under international climate and sustainability standards, reinforcing its credibility and impact on climate change mitigation, biodiversity protection, and socio-economic resilience.

Carbon Credits

The carbon credits for this project are issued by Verra under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program, one of the world’s most widely used GHG crediting programs. Verra’s programs offer comprehensive methodologies and frameworks that support the design and implementation of carbon reduction, sustainable development, and plastic waste reduction projects globally.

REDD+ Methodology Framework (REDD+MF)

REDD+ Project Resguardo Indígena Unificado – Selva de Matavén (REDD+ RIU-SM)

This community-led initiative conserves forests, protects biodiversity, and supports Indigenous livelihoods in Vichada, Colombia. Covering 1.15 million hectares, it prevents deforestation and reduces carbon emissions while adhering to VCS and CCB standards. The undertaking promotes sustainable land management, ecosystem service compensation, and Indigenous governance.

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