Amazon REDD+ Forest Protection

The Amazon REDD+ project implements avoided unplanned deforestation across 685,000 hectares in Brazil's Acre state. The project area faces high deforestation pressure from major highways, which opened previously remote forest to agricultural expansion and illegal logging. Using VM0015 methodology, the project establishes a baseline deforestation rate of 0.75% annually based on historical data and prevents estimated 14,800 hectares/year of forest clearing. Implementation activities include: advanced satellite monitoring with Planet Labs daily imagery, ground-truth verification teams, 50-person community ranger program, alternative livelihood development (Brazil nut harvesting cooperatives, ecotourism), and legal enforcement coordination with Brazil's forest service (IBAMA). The project maintains carbon stocks of 140 tC/ha across mixed terra firme and floodplain forest.