The second greatest source of climate change after the burning of fossil fuels is deforestation. Since 1973, the island of Borneo has reported a loss of over 400,000 hectares (4,000 square kilometers) of rainforest. Since 2000, nearly half of Borneo’s forest depletion is attributable to the oil plantations for which the rainforests across Indonesia have been destroyed.
REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. United Nations REDD+ projects pursue long-term strategies to address the causes of deforestation and forest degradation.

This project has managed to protect 64,500 hectares of carbon-rich peat swamp forests with a high biodiversity in lowland Borneo from the conversion to palm oil plantations surrounding the entire project area.In total, more than 120 threatened and endangered species live in the project area, including the endangered Bornean orangutan. The project activities prevent the release of 3.5 million metric tons of CO2 equivalents into the atmosphere each year. In addition, local communities are supported by providing training in sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity and wildlife habitat.

The project is accredited by the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCBS). In addition, this project is the first forest conservation project in the world to have its own contribution to the environment, biodiversity and social SDGs independently verified under the newly created Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta).

Between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans lie the coastal plains and rugged mountain ranges of the three Central American nations of Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. This border region is highly underdeveloped and dominated by poverty.  

The Guacamaya Program takes advantage of the region's abundant hydrological resources by installing small river systems to channel water through turbines to generate electricity. A number of small systems within this project provide clean electricity to remote communities in the region, enabling the development as well as maintenance of local infrastructure. With an installed capacity of up to 15 MW, the hydropower plants use modern technology that is adapted to local conditions and can be fully operated and managed by the communities. Strict monitoring and reporting requirements also ensure minimal environmental impact.

These projects strengthen the labor market in the border region and improve education through the introduction of modern technologies. Among other things, the program has already enabled the construction of a school center in the community of El Salto, Honduras, and its connection to the newly built electricity grid. In addition, afforestation and reforestation activities have been introduced.

The project is registered under both the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the Gold Standard and makes a certified contribution to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9 and 13.