Russas-Valparaiso Projects

LOCATION

Near city of Cruzeiro do Sul in the State of Acre, Brazil

PROJECT TYPE

Forest Conservation / Avoided Deforestation

TOTAL SIZE

70,072 hectares (173,152 acres)

STANDARD

Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS), Gold Distinction
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS)

START DATE

March 17 and March 19, 2011

ESTIMATED EMISSION REDUCTIONS OVER FIRST 10 YEARS

3,123,870 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions

SUCCESSFUL VERIFICATIONS THROUGH 2020

VERIFICATION/VALIDATION

Environmental Services, Inc.
Rainforest Alliance / IMAFLORA

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Reduce carbon dioxide emissions
Mitigate climate change
Conserve habitat for endangered and threatened species
Improve local water quality
Retain top soil and control erosion

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Establish alternative sources of income and employment opportunities
Provide agricultural extension training
Grant official land tenure
Social projects and programs such as building health clinics, renovating the local schools, building community bathrooms, distributing mosquito nets, and supporting an association for açaí and manioc flour

Project Description

In the world’s largest rainforest, the Russas and Valparaiso Projects are forest conservation and community development projects which involve numerous local and international partners that will protect nearly 175,000 acres from slash-and-burn forest clearing and prevent millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. These projects will also provide essential ecosystem services such as: erosion control along the Valparaiso River; water cycling, filtration and storage; nutrient recycling; and habitat for thousands of native Amazonian animal and plant species, including short eared dogs, jaguars, and giant anteaters.

Avoided deforestation projects are critical because about 20 percent of global warming is attributed to deforestation, because deforestation leads to the release of carbon stored in trees. Moreover, deforestation reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and fallen trees decompose and release methane, a heat-trapping gas about 23 times more potent than CO2.

The Russas and Valparaiso Projects are validated and verified to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) with Gold Level Distinction for exceptional community benefits. To review the complete project documents, please visit: https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/1112; https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/1113

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