A Closer Look at the Vichada Carbon Project: Highlights from Our December 2024 Visit
January 30, 2025
Project Updates
In November 2024, our team had the privilege of visiting the Vichada Carbon Project in Colombia, located in the diverse and ecologically rich region of Vichada (including La Primavera, Puerto Carreño, and Cumaribo). This visit was an important opportunity to witness the continued success of the project, which blends high-quality forest management practices with deep, collaborative partnerships with local communities.
During our time there, we saw firsthand the project’s growing influence on local economic development, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. With a focus on the new initiative of planting native tree species, alongside its established efforts in sustainable employment and cutting-edge monitoring technologies, the Vichada project continues to set a strong example of how carbon offset projects can deliver real, tangible benefits for both people and the planet. This new phase of native species planting enhances the project's already impressive work in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation, ensuring its long-term sustainability and positive impact on the region.
Successful Audit and New Planting Areas: Driving Forward Climate Action
One of the main purposes of our visit was to observe the audit of the project’s progress, conducted in collaboration with Carbon Check. The results were highly positive, showcasing the project’s strong environmental performance and its ability to meet the rigorous standards required for carbon offset certification.
What’s especially exciting is the expansion of the planting areas, which now include over 30 hectares of newly planted native tree species. This addition not only contributes to the project’s overall carbon sequestration potential but also helps restore vital habitats for local wildlife and biodiversity. The use of remote sensing technology allows us to assess new planting areas efficiently and accurately, ensuring that every hectare planted is helping to fight climate change.
Vibrant Community Impact: Jobs, Empowerment, and Long-Term Prosperity
As we explored the landscape of Vichada, which consists of savannah and sub-tropical river basins, we were reminded that the success of this project is not just measured in environmental outcomes—it’s also about the impact on the local communities. The project has already created 381 jobs, many of which are in areas such as nursery operations, tree planting, and forest management.
What truly sets this project apart is its focus on creating sustainable, well-paid employment that empowers local communities. Currently, 379 employees are earning salaries above the local minimum wage, providing them with financial security and the opportunity to support their families and invest in their futures.
The project also supports women’s empowerment. With 30% of the workforce being women, many of whom were previously without formal employment, the Vichada project is actively contributing to gender equality in a region where opportunities for women have historically been limited.
In addition, the project helps to improve local infrastructure, including the installation of solar panels, a drinking water treatment plant for a public school and internet access via Starlink for remote areas. These improvements are crucial for long-term community development, making Vichada a more resilient and connected place for its people.
Biodiversity Protection: Safeguarding Vichada’s Rich Ecosystem
The Vichada region is home to a vast array of threatened species and biodiversity hotspots. During our visit, we learned about the project’s ongoing efforts to protect these vulnerable species, with 110 protected species now under the project’s conservation efforts. The protected land area of 11,994.17 hectares continues to expand, providing essential habitats for wildlife and ensuring that the project supports not just carbon capture but also biodiversity preservation.
Our team also had the opportunity to interact with the rangers working to safeguard the region’s ecosystems. With 36 rangers trained in biodiversity monitoring, the project is ensuring that both the environmental and social aspects of the initiative are deeply integrated. Rangers have already made 437 observations, identifying 110 species across three taxonomic groups, which highlights the project’s success in both monitoring and protecting the area’s rich biodiversity.
A Commitment to Community Collaboration: Building Partnerships for the Future
What truly distinguishes the Vichada Carbon Project is the deep collaboration with local and indigenous communities. From the beginning, the project has focused on fostering long-term relationships with local authorities, indigenous leaders, and community members.
As we spoke with the locals, it was clear that the project’s revenue-sharing model has had a significant positive impact. Many of the residents mentioned how the income from carbon credits has allowed them to improve their lives. For example, Camilo Gómez, a teacher at the Esmeralda Primary School, shared how the installation of internet connectivity and the water treatment plant have made a huge difference for the school and the community, which serves 130 children (with 50 boarding). He spoke of how the project has boosted local education and created a better learning environment for students.
The positive feedback from the community is a testament to the social impact that the project has made, particularly in terms of job creation, capacity building, and empowerment of marginalized groups. Additionally, the ongoing workshops, trainings, and community engagement activities have helped establish a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange, where traditional knowledge is integrated with modern conservation practices.
Looking Forward: Scaling the Vichada Project and Expanding Its Impact
The Vichada Carbon Project is not a one-off initiative—it’s a model for how carbon offset projects can bring social, environmental, and economic benefits. Looking ahead, the project is planning to scale its efforts, planting more hectares of trees, enhancing its carbon monitoring systems, and continuing to engage with local communities. The native species trials, which focus on species like Congrio (Acosmius nitens), Yopo (Anadenanthera peregrina), and Pavito-Chingale (Jacaranda copaia), show promise for improving biodiversity and carbon sequestration in the long term.
By continually refining its approach and responding to market feedback, the Vichada Carbon Project is ensuring that it remains a high-quality, sustainable investment for carbon offset buyers and a long-term source of socioeconomic benefits for the region.
In Summary: Key Takeaways from Our Vichada Visit:
- Shifting from a timber-based approach to a focus on conservation, the project has successfully planted over 21,413 hectares of trees, contributing to both carbon sequestration and biodiversity restoration.
- Creation of 381 jobs and improvements in local infrastructure, including solar panels, internet, and water treatment plan for a public school.
- 110 protected species and 11,994 hectares of land under conservation.
- 36 trained rangers and 437 species observations in the area, reflecting strong biodiversity monitoring.
- Active collaboration with indigenous communities, integrating traditional knowledge with modern forest management practices.
- Continued investment in social programs, such as education, job training, and women’s empowerment.
The Vichada Carbon Project is a prime example of how sustainable forest management, community engagement, and high-quality carbon offset projects can work together to drive positive environmental change and economic growth. As the project continues to grow, we are excited to see how it will contribute even more to climate action, biodiversity protection, and local development. This is a model for the future, where collaboration with local communities is the key to unlocking long-term success.
