More than 380 families participating in the REDD+ project “Grateful Planet with the Indigenous Reserve Bajo Río Guainía and Río Negro” by Human Forest now have access to satellite internet. This was made possible through the implementation of a digital inclusion and connectivity expansion program, which involved community-led identification of needs to define the most suitable connectivity solution.
“The reserve lacks a stable electricity supply and network infrastructure that would allow 24/7 connectivity. Therefore, together with the Assembly of Indigenous Leaders, the REDD+ Council, and Human Forest, we concluded that an integrated solution was needed: a system of solar panels, inverters, and batteries installed in the communal houses of each community. This would not only ensure proper operation of the antenna but also allow the connection of other devices like refrigerators, computers, and TVs, enabling the development of community-based productive projects and activities such as training, online learning, telemedicine, and more,” explained Helmuth Gallego, President of Human Forest.
The solution installed in the 30 communities of the reserve consists of a photovoltaic solar system, an inverter and battery with a 3,000 W capacity, and a Starlink satellite antenna, with a basic service plan offering speeds between 50 and 250 Mbps and latency between 20 and 40 milliseconds.
Pedro Julio Cedeño Garrido, captain of the San Rafael community and member of the Curripaco ethnic group, shares that this is the first time they have ever had connectivity: “Since the Internet arrived, most families are happy—why? Because many people have relatives in Brazil, in Puerto Inírida. Some are interested in virtual learning or doing research. I, as captain, will study more,” he emphasizes.
The ICT coverage and appropriation program is one of 15 programs currently being implemented within the REDD+ project in the Indigenous Reserve. Alongside it, programs in land-use planning, economic development and quality of life, environmental sustainability, culture, education, health, access to water and sanitation, and gender equality and women’s empowerment, among others, are also underway.
REDD+ projects focus on reducing CO₂ emissions by preventing deforestation and forest degradation, and are part of carbon credit market initiatives.
Thanks to the project “Grateful Planet with the Indigenous Reserve Bajo Río Guainía and Río Negro”, between 2018 and 2020, over 2.6 million tons of CO₂ emissions were avoided, thanks to the work of more than 380 families living in the area. They are the main actors and beneficiaries of the carbon credits generated by this initiative.