October saw more vital projects supported through our Ecologi contributions. Not only do these projects help the environment and reduce carbon emissions, but they are valuable in improving the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of local communities. The Peatland restoration and conservation in Indonesia project works to improve the well-being and sustainable economic prospects of the 49,000 people in 39 villages. While in eastern Colombia, almost 16,000 Indigenous people live locally, benefitting from co-projects alongside the protection of the Matavén forest.
Peatlands, a type of wetland, are critical ecosystems storing immense amounts of carbon—up to 20 times more than forests. Though covering only 3% of Earth’s surface, they hold more carbon than all vegetation types combined. When drained or cleared, they release carbon dioxide, fuelling climate change. Indonesia houses 36% of the world’s tropical peatlands, yet they are at risk from plantation expansion.
The Katingan Mentaya Project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, aims to protect and restore 149,800 hectares of peatland. Using satellite monitoring, fire prevention, and rewetting techniques, the team safeguards peatland biodiversity, including the critically endangered Bornean orangutan.
Supporting 49,000 people across 39 villages, the project offers local development initiatives, from women-led businesses to health and education. This conservation project embodies the belief that forest health, wildlife, and community well-being are intertwined, ensuring sustainable outcomes for both nature and people.
Colombia, a global biodiversity hotspot, is home to an estimated 10% of the world’s species and over 40,000 plant species. The Vichada department, situated in the Orinoco River basin near Venezuela, has faced significant deforestation, losing around 500,000 hectares between 1990 and 2005.
The Matavén REDD+ project, located in this region, safeguards 1,150,212 hectares of tropical forest within the Indigenous Matavén Reserve. The project has successfully reduced emissions by preventing deforestation pressures that arise when local farmers move into the forest.
Nearly 16,000 Indigenous people benefit from initiatives linked to the project, including employment as forest rangers and sustainable livelihoods that conserve, rather than exploit, the forest. In addition, the project supports local communities with essential services such as education, healthcare, sanitation, and food security. The project is certified to Verra’s Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCBS), demonstrating its intentions to bring significant co-benefits to the local people and nature.
See our profile here to learn more about the projects we support. If you’d like to be a part of the Ecologi community and contribute towards projects like these, you can sign your business up with Ecologi or purchase one of our hosting plans.