Emission Reduction & Avoidance
Protecting Colombia’s Indigenous Forests with REDD+ Matavén
Selva de Matavén, Cumaribo, Colombia
Selva de Matavén, Cumaribo, Colombia
1,856,836
Ha covered
35,400,000
tCO2e emission reduction
9,857
Youth educated
22,486
People supported
17
Species protected
Low
Low
Low
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
High
High
High
Very High
Very High
Very High
Carbon Impact
Carbon Impact
Carbon Impact
Measures the project's effectiveness in removing or avoiding CO₂
Measures the project's effectiveness in removing or avoiding CO₂
Co-benefits
Co-benefits
Co-benefits
Assesses the positive impact on biodiversity, local communities, and ecosystem resilience.
Assesses the positive impact on biodiversity, local communities, and ecosystem resilience.
Data Transparency & Governance
Data Transparency & Governance
Data Transparency & Governance
Evaluates project accountability, monitoring accuracy, and the reliability of reported outcomes.
Evaluates project accountability, monitoring accuracy, and the reliability of reported outcomes.
Dries Grasveld
Head of Climate Projects
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Overview
Update 2025
Why this project?
The forests of Matavén are vital to Colombia and the world, as they are one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks, and protecting them is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Preventing deforestation also ensures that Indigenous communities maintain access to clean water, food, traditional medicine, and cultural heritage.
The REDD+ Matavén project is expected to stop over 108 million tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere between 2013 and 2042. The project plays a critical role in regional climate resilience, preserving water cycles, reducing the risk of drought, and helping buffer extreme weather events.
Its unique location between the Amazon and Orinoquía biomes makes it a key corridor for species migration and climate adaptation, crucial for biodiversity conservation. Matavén lies in a high-risk frontier region where forest loss is accelerating due to illegal cattle grazing, land grabbing, and resource extraction, making protection here especially urgent.
Protecting Indigenous forests
What sets Matavén apart is its leadership: this is a project by and for indigenous communities. The area is home to rich biodiversity and six Indigenous communities who have lived in harmony with nature for generations. Through their organization, ACATISEMA, Indigenous leaders plan, manage, and carry out all conservation activities, ensuring that everything aligns with their traditions, rights, and long-term vision for the land.
The project aligns modern conservation practices with ancestral knowledge, fostering a holistic approach to sustainability that respects and promotes Indigenous peoples’ rights, autonomy, and cultural integrity. Moreover, young people are trained in both traditional skills and modern tools, building intergenerational leadership for conservation. The governance model through ACATISEMA is officially recognized by the Colombian government, ensuring long-term legal empowerment and Indigenous sovereignty. Where possible, the project also promotes women’s participation in decision-making and income-generating activities.
Beyond conservation, the initiative improves access to clean water, education, healthcare, and local markets. Over 90% of the project revenue is reinvested directly into the Indigenous territory, making sure that environmental impact goes hand-in-hand with community well-being.
Certifications & global recognition
REDD+ Matavén is certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards, earning Gold Level status for its climate adaptation benefits. It’s internationally recognized as a groundbreaking model for Indigenous-led conservation, showing how traditional knowledge and modern climate solutions can work hand in hand.
Project Gallery
Location
Project Partner
This project is verified by Verified Carbon Standard (Verra). VCS was established in 2007 and is a full-fledged carbon offset program developed and run by the non-profit Verra. It focuses on GHG reduction attributes only and does not require projects to have additional environmental or social benefits. The VCS is broadly supported by the carbon offset industry (project developers, large offset buyers, verifiers, and project consultants) and is active globally.
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
The Project implements various activities that improve food security, strengthen indigenous governance, and increase access to educational programs.
The Project has created the Family Agri-food Production Units System (FAPUS) and several initiatives like cocoa, plantain, and beekeeping, promoting traditional food production for self-consumption and trade.
Over 4,700 indigenous people, including 2,100 women, now have better healthcare through "IPS Matavén Salud" and other programs.
Indigenous guards, leaders, and community members receive training on protecting natural resources. Support is provided to higher education students, and schools are being upgraded with new facilities and kits for children.
The Project empowers women through education and active roles in community leadership, including the chance to become captains and join ACATISEMA. It also supports improvements in traditional roles like food production.
Over 1,600 people, including 790 women, benefit from better water quality and access to clean drinking water through programs providing treated water to indigenous communities.
The Project is evaluating solar equipment like stoves and panels, with some communities already using solar panels for energy and water pumps.
Over 3,100 community members, including 350 women, have joined training workshops. The Project also supports local professional development and provides education opportunities for future Matavén leaders.
The Project has built new infrastructure, including those that promote agroforestry cultivation of cocoa, plantain, corn, and abarco; checkpoints for the indigenous guard, bridges, classrooms, communal dining rooms, health posts, deep wells, and ACATISEMA's offices in Cumaribo and Inírida.
The Project includes 6 major ethnic groups and gives them a voice in Matavén's highest authority. REDD+ Matavén fosters an inclusive environment, valuing and enhancing the roles of women, the elderly, youth, children, and men.
By upgrading infrastructure, the Project is raising living standards for local communities, providing facilities for sustainable farming, communication, transport, healthcare, water treatment, and housing.
The Project supports sustainable farming by reducing water use, avoiding chemicals and plastic, and following expert guidance to enhance food security with minimal environmental impact.
The Project has already cut over 35.4 million tonnes of CO₂e, with more reductions expected over its 30-year span.
The Project supports sustainable use of aquatic resources, protecting wildlife and improving water quality.
The Project prevents deforestation in a biodiversity-rich area, home to many endemic species, and protects ecosystem services like water quality and microclimate regulation by maintaining wildlife corridors.
The Project respects indigenous rights and traditions, ensuring its activities don’t interfere with them. In response to local armed conflict, the government has deployed police, army, and naval forces to protect the Matavén population and demobilize armed groups.
The Project links Matavén to global climate efforts through improved technology, knowledge sharing, and trade, with international support backing its initiatives like productive projects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Project Highlights
Project Gallery
Location
Project Partner
SDG's
Overview
Why this project?
The forests of Matavén are vital to Colombia and the world, as they are one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks, and protecting them is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Preventing deforestation also ensures that Indigenous communities maintain access to clean water, food, traditional medicine, and cultural heritage.
The REDD+ Matavén project is expected to stop over 108 million tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere between 2013 and 2042. The project plays a critical role in regional climate resilience, preserving water cycles, reducing the risk of drought, and helping buffer extreme weather events.
Its unique location between the Amazon and Orinoquía biomes makes it a key corridor for species migration and climate adaptation, crucial for biodiversity conservation. Matavén lies in a high-risk frontier region where forest loss is accelerating due to illegal cattle grazing, land grabbing, and resource extraction, making protection here especially urgent.
Protecting Indigenous forests
What sets Matavén apart is its leadership: this is a project by and for indigenous communities. The area is home to rich biodiversity and six Indigenous communities who have lived in harmony with nature for generations. Through their organization, ACATISEMA, Indigenous leaders plan, manage, and carry out all conservation activities, ensuring that everything aligns with their traditions, rights, and long-term vision for the land.
The project aligns modern conservation practices with ancestral knowledge, fostering a holistic approach to sustainability that respects and promotes Indigenous peoples’ rights, autonomy, and cultural integrity. Moreover, young people are trained in both traditional skills and modern tools, building intergenerational leadership for conservation. The governance model through ACATISEMA is officially recognized by the Colombian government, ensuring long-term legal empowerment and Indigenous sovereignty. Where possible, the project also promotes women’s participation in decision-making and income-generating activities.
Beyond conservation, the initiative improves access to clean water, education, healthcare, and local markets. Over 90% of the project revenue is reinvested directly into the Indigenous territory, making sure that environmental impact goes hand-in-hand with community well-being.
Certifications & global recognition
REDD+ Matavén is certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards, earning Gold Level status for its climate adaptation benefits. It’s internationally recognized as a groundbreaking model for Indigenous-led conservation, showing how traditional knowledge and modern climate solutions can work hand in hand.
Project Gallery
Location
Project Partner
This project is verified by Verified Carbon Standard (Verra). VCS was established in 2007 and is a full-fledged carbon offset program developed and run by the non-profit Verra. It focuses on GHG reduction attributes only and does not require projects to have additional environmental or social benefits. The VCS is broadly supported by the carbon offset industry (project developers, large offset buyers, verifiers, and project consultants) and is active globally.
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
The Project implements various activities that improve food security, strengthen indigenous governance, and increase access to educational programs.
The Project has created the Family Agri-food Production Units System (FAPUS) and several initiatives like cocoa, plantain, and beekeeping, promoting traditional food production for self-consumption and trade.
Over 4,700 indigenous people, including 2,100 women, now have better healthcare through "IPS Matavén Salud" and other programs.
Indigenous guards, leaders, and community members receive training on protecting natural resources. Support is provided to higher education students, and schools are being upgraded with new facilities and kits for children.
The Project empowers women through education and active roles in community leadership, including the chance to become captains and join ACATISEMA. It also supports improvements in traditional roles like food production.
Over 1,600 people, including 790 women, benefit from better water quality and access to clean drinking water through programs providing treated water to indigenous communities.
The Project is evaluating solar equipment like stoves and panels, with some communities already using solar panels for energy and water pumps.
Over 3,100 community members, including 350 women, have joined training workshops. The Project also supports local professional development and provides education opportunities for future Matavén leaders.
The Project has built new infrastructure, including those that promote agroforestry cultivation of cocoa, plantain, corn, and abarco; checkpoints for the indigenous guard, bridges, classrooms, communal dining rooms, health posts, deep wells, and ACATISEMA's offices in Cumaribo and Inírida.
The Project includes 6 major ethnic groups and gives them a voice in Matavén's highest authority. REDD+ Matavén fosters an inclusive environment, valuing and enhancing the roles of women, the elderly, youth, children, and men.
By upgrading infrastructure, the Project is raising living standards for local communities, providing facilities for sustainable farming, communication, transport, healthcare, water treatment, and housing.
The Project supports sustainable farming by reducing water use, avoiding chemicals and plastic, and following expert guidance to enhance food security with minimal environmental impact.
The Project has already cut over 35.4 million tonnes of CO₂e, with more reductions expected over its 30-year span.
The Project supports sustainable use of aquatic resources, protecting wildlife and improving water quality.
The Project prevents deforestation in a biodiversity-rich area, home to many endemic species, and protects ecosystem services like water quality and microclimate regulation by maintaining wildlife corridors.
The Project respects indigenous rights and traditions, ensuring its activities don’t interfere with them. In response to local armed conflict, the government has deployed police, army, and naval forces to protect the Matavén population and demobilize armed groups.
The Project links Matavén to global climate efforts through improved technology, knowledge sharing, and trade, with international support backing its initiatives like productive projects.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Project Highlights
Project Gallery
Location
Project Partner
SDG's
Other projects
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