The Bajo Calima y Bahía Málaga (BCBM) project is an avoided deforestation project on the Pacific coast of Colombia. It protects and restores an area of land the size of the city of Austin, Texas. This project is next to a major growing metropolitan area, making its protection all the more critical and urgent. The BCBM project exists in one of the cloudiest and rainiest areas of the world, receiving over twenty-two feet of rain per year, which also makes it a very unique ecosystem where flora and fauna thrive. Thanks to enormous annual rainfall and the topographic diversity, the project is incredibly biodiverse with 831 bird species, 195 amphibians, 167 mammals, 210 reptiles, and 5124 plant species. The project estimates that there are a further 18 mammal, 9 amphibian, and 5 reptile species threatened or endangered within the area covered by the BCBM project. This project is community driven, with the local landowners forming into Governing Councils to help oversee execution of the project and the funds that come from these carbon credits (with support from NGO Fondo Accion). A considerable amount of project programming is spent on community engagement and improvement, including improving health outcomes, infrastructure, and livelihood. This includes working with local agroforestry to improve yields without deforesting additional land. The BCBM project has achieved the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity certification from Verra to represent its positive impacts on the community and wildlife.
Founded in 2005, Verra is a global leader helping tackle the world’s most intractable environmental and social challenges by developing and managing standards that help the private sector, countries, and civil society achieve ambitious sustainable development and climate action goals. Verra’s global standards and frameworks serve as linchpins for channeling finance towards high-impact activities that tackle some of the most pressing environmental issues of our day.
Economic growth that must be inclusive to provide sustainable jobs and promote equality.
Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.
The food and agriculture sector offers key solutions for development, and is central for hunger and poverty eradication.
Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Sustainable economic growth will require societies to create the conditions that allow people to have quality jobs.
