Asunción, Paraguay, 21.03.23: The Corazón Verde del Chaco Project (VCS Project 2611), the largest Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) carbon project in Paraguay, has now completed VCS+CCB validation and registration at the Verra Registry.
Local project developer Quadriz made the first project announcement in October 2020, partnering with Ostrya Conservation Inc. and Atenil S.A., on the largest REDD+ project to date in the Paraguayan Chaco. The three-way partnership formed the Corazón Verde del Chaco Project, which translated to English means ‘the green heart of the Chaco.’ The name was chosen as this precisely described what the project will protect and conserve.
During the initial 10-year crediting period, the project’s net greenhouse gas emission reductions are estimated at a total of 5.6 million tonnes CO2e.
“We thank our partners Atenil and Ostrya for all their hard work and persistence to bring our Corazon Verde del Chaco Project to a successful VCS+CCB validation and registration at Verra. As the local project manager Quadriz will continue to put in all our efforts to preserve a maximum of the beautiful Paraguayan Chaco”.
Said Marcel van Heesewijk, CEO at Quadriz.
The Gran Chaco has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world, with the Paraguayan Chaco accounting for a large share of this deforestation. The Chaco Forest is the second largest forest in South America, after the Amazon Rainforest, and is estimated to be home to over 3,000 plant species and more than 650 bird and mammal species – including rare and endangered species.
As such, the Corazón Verde del Chaco Project received the coveted CCB Gold Level Distinction from Verra for exceptional biodiversity benefits. The unique biodiversity of the forest area has been determined through a 10-month biodiversity monitoring programme with motion-sensitive camera traps, installed by Quadriz and FACEN at the University of Asunción.
Through this monitoring, Quadriz and FACEN confirmed the project area as a biodiversity hotspot with a presence of, and range for, vulnerable species, among them the giant anteater, lowland tapir, giant armadillo, and the locally-endangered jaguar. These findings were later confirmed by the Validation and Verification Body (VVB), Aster Global Environmental Solutions and validated through the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards.
The project is now progressing through the rigorous verification process as Quadriz has submitted for the project’s first verification at the Verra Registry for the 2020-2021 monitoring period.
Through the combined experience and knowledge of its experts and project members, Quadriz boasts a fast-growing and unrivalled project team. Looking ahead, Quadriz will continue to work collaboratively, on local and global partnerships to maximise the impacts of its REDD+ project portfolio in the Chaco, preserve forest cover, and avoid GHG emissions.
