Transparency and Impact: Key Data and Methodologies Behind Our REDD+ Projects
This section provides a comprehensive overview of the technical, financial, and operational foundations of our REDD+ projects in Colombia. It details how emissions reductions are calculated, how funds are allocated and governed, and how long-term impact is measured. Our goal is to offer full transparency and build confidence through data-driven insights, robust verification standards, and accountable collaboration with Indigenous communities.
FAQ
Why does Human Forest focus on REDD+ and Indigenous Communities in Colombia?
Human Forest prioritizes REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) because it is one of the most effective mechanisms to mitigate climate change while delivering tangible benefits for local communities. While reforestation plays a role in carbon sequestration, the most efficient climate strategy is preventing deforestation in the first place. Once a forest is lost, it takes decades, if not centuries, for new trees to absorb the same amount of carbon that was released. The Amazon, as one of the world’s most critical carbon sinks, must be protected before we reach a point of no return.
Colombia is home to the highest biodiversity per square kilometer worldwide, yet its forests face mounting threats from illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and informal resource extraction. Indigenous territories, which hold vast stretches of intact rainforest, are on the frontlines of this battle. Many in the Global North hold an idealized view of these communities as living in harmony with nature, but the reality is more complex. Prior to our projects, almost all indigenous families faced extreme poverty, with minimal access to healthcare, education, or sustainable income opportunities. This economic vulnerability often forced them into extractive industries or pushed them to migrate to urban centers, leaving their ancestral lands behind.
By placing indigenous communities at the core of conservation efforts, Human Forest ensures that REDD+ does more than just preserve forests: it enables long-term territorial stability and self-sufficiency. Through structured financial mechanisms and governance strengthening, our projects provide communities with the resources and autonomy needed to remain in their territories with dignity, free from dependence on extractive economies or external aid.
Where does the investment money go, how are financial flows managed, and who decides how Human Forest's funds are spent?
Revenue Distribution: Ensuring Maximum Benefit for Indigenous Communities
From the total revenues generated by our carbon credit projects, 52% is directly allocated to Indigenous communities, while 48% remains with Human Forest. At first glance, this may seem imbalanced, especially compared to developers who claim, for example, a 70/30 split. However, this is misleading.
Many developers distribute only net profits while shifting all operational costs onto communities, drastically reducing their actual share. Human Forest, in contrast, covers all project costs within its own portion, including:
- Logistics and transportation (private aircraft or boats to reach remote areas)
- Personnel and travel expenses
- Taxes and regulatory fees
- Certification, verification, and audit expenses (which are recurring fees)
- Marketing, sales, and commercialization
- Research expenses for scientific and botanical expeditions
While other models may appear more generous on paper, our approach ensures that Indigenous communities receive a significantly higher net amount after expenses.
Comparative Analysis: Human Forest vs. Other Developers
| Human Forest | Other Developers | |
|---|---|---|
| Example Revenue | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Direct Costs | $100 | $100 |
To illustrate the difference in financial allocation, the table below compares Human Forest’s revenue distribution with that of other developers:
Human Forest | Other Developers | |
Example Revenue | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Direct Costs | $100 | $100 |
Expenses | $300 | $300 |
Total Costs | $400 | $400 |
Profit Split | 52/48 (Net) | 70/30 (Gross) |
Indigenous Communities Receive | $520 (net income) | $420 (after deducting expenses) |
Developer Receives | $80 | $180 |
This comparison highlights how Human Forest’s model delivers a higher net income to Indigenous communities, even if the percentage split initially appears lower.
How Are the 52% Allocated to Communities Managed?
The funds are divided into two key categories:
- Autonomous Reserve Administration (10-20%)
- Managed by the legal representative of the Indigenous reserve or its discretionary use.
- Expenditures requiring signatures from the REDD+ council’s executive board before disbursement requests are sent to Fiduagraria.
- This portion is intentionally limited to ensure responsible spending.
- Family Income Support & Development Programs (80-90%)
- Household Support Grant: Each participating family receives at least COP 1,000,000 per month as compensation for their commitment to forest conservation. This amount is sufficient to cover all basic needs and ensure a dignified life in the Amazon, allowing families to sustain themselves without resorting to environmentally harmful activities.
15 Targeted Development Programs: These are community-driven initiatives aimed at long-term socio-economic improvement. See below for more details or visit our community page to learn how these programs make a real impact.
Secure & Transparent Financial Flow
Disbursement of the Household Support Grant (Cash):
- Lower Rio Guainía & Rio Negro: Payments through Cootregua, a cooperative regulated by Colombia’s financial supervisory authority. Families hold individual accounts, with access to cash withdrawals (office in San José de Guaviare) and online banking.
- Isana & Surubí: Payments via Nequi, Colombia’s equivalent of PayPal, allowing online banking and cash withdrawals at the Bancolombia branch in Mitú.
- Internet Access: All communities have been equipped with digital infrastructure to facilitate seamless transactions.
Governance & Oversight
As Human Forest operates under Indigenous authority, fund allocations for the 15 development programs require four executive signatures from the REDD+ council. Human Forest manages the necessary resources and coordinates the required services, submits all supporting documents to the indigenous authorities, and operates with their approval. In addition, an annual accountability report is submitted.
This structured approach ensures that funds are effectively utilized, Indigenous communities retain maximum net income, and every dollar is accounted for, reinforcing our commitment to financial integrity, equity, and long-term sustainability.
How is the actual reduction of CO₂ emissions calculated and verified?
All projects follow the CERCARBONO or COLCX standard, which ensures that climate mitigation initiatives align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through standardized methodologies. Each project applies Colombia’s national REDD+ framework (NREF) to establish a scientifically sound deforestation baseline based on historical data, such as 2005 – 2017 for Grateful Planet: Lower Rio Guainía & Rio Negro Indigenous Territory and 2012 – 2021 for its geographical extension. This baseline considers deforestation drivers, including agricultural expansion, informal resource extraction, and unregulated land use.
Carbon sequestration is calculated using biomass inventories and forest carbon stock assessments, verified through high-resolution remote sensing technologies like LANDSAT imagery and geographic analysis. The Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales (IDEAM), Colombia’s leading environmental agency, provides official cartographic data to ensure accuracy and compliance with national forest monitoring protocols.
To guarantee integrity, all projects undergo independent third-party audits by oversight bodies such as ICONTEC and VERSA AUDITORES, ensuring that all reported carbon credits meet the highest transparency and reliability standards.
What technologies and methodologies are used for forest monitoring?
Our projects integrate multi-layered monitoring systems combining satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and community-led patrolling. We employ geographic information systems (GIS) and the Sistema de Monitoreo de Bosques y Carbono (SMByC) for tracking forest cover changes. In Grateful Planet: Lower Rio Guainía & Rio Negro Indigenous Territory, five specialized monitoring lines assess deforestation, degradation, and disturbances, while community monitors use AVENZA GPS applications for real-time georeferenced data collection. Additionally, monitoring follows official cartographic data from IDEAM, ensuring alignment with national forest surveillance systems.
How do the projects prevent overestimation of carbon savings and ensure additionality?
Emission reductions are calculated using conservative estimates and strict validation protocols. Our projects follow a robust baseline methodology, comparing actual deforestation trends with projected scenarios that assume business-as-usual conditions. Without carbon financing, deforestation rates would increase due to economic pressures such as illegal mining and logging, and land conversion for agriculture. The projects undergo periodic third-party verification, and credits are registered on ECOREGISTRY and COLCX, ensuring transparency and preventing double-counting.
How do the projects contribute to long-term social development?
Beyond carbon sequestration, our projects actively support sustainable community development through a structured programmatic approach. The revenue generated is reinvested into 15 key development programs:
Our 15 Programs at a Glance
- Economy and Quality of Life
- Autonomous Management of the Territory by the Communities
- Sustainability and Environmental Protection
- Education and Cultural Promotion
- Access to Healthcare Services
- Digital Infrastructure and Communication
- Infrastructure, Housing, and Transportation Improvements
- Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
- Energy Supply
- Child Protection and Development
- Strengthening Family Unity to Preserve Cultural Values
- Supporting Youth Development
- Gender Equality
- Sustainable Ecotourism
- Preserving the Knowledge of Indigenous Elders
These programs address long-standing social and economic gaps by funding education, healthcare, clean water access, and infrastructure projects. In Grateful Planet: Lower Rio Guainía & Rio Negro Indigenous Territory, for example, project revenues have financed educational support for 20 schools, provided satellite internet connectivity, and improved healthcare access through additional medical personnel and supplies. Visit our community page to see these programs in action and their real impact on the ground.
How is governance structured, territorial rights protected, and the compliance with social and environmental safeguards ensured?
The territorial autonomy of the communities remains fully intact. Before the start of any project, a process of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) is conducted, formally approved by over 90% of the participating families. Strategic decisions are made within the Council of Community Chiefs (Asamblea de Capitanes), in close coordination with elders, knowledge keepers, and cultural leaders.
The collective ownership of indigenous territories is protected under Article 63 of the Colombian Constitution, which declares such lands inalienable, imprescriptible, and unseizable. Additional contractual agreements further reinforce this legal protection.
In addition, Human Forest ensures full compliance with the Cancún Safeguards: an international framework under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), designed to guarantee that REDD+ projects respect human rights, promote biodiversity conservation, and prevent adverse social and environmental impacts.
In Colombia, these safeguards are implemented through the national strategy “Bosques Territorios de Vida” and its dedicated Safeguard Information System (SIS). Human Forest strictly adheres to this framework, aligning all projects with the following core principles:
- Full and effective participation of communities
- Respect for collective rights and traditional knowledge
- Conservation of ecosystems and prevention of emission displacement
Compliance is regularly verified through official reporting mechanisms and independent audits, underscoring our commitment to ethical, transparent, and internationally recognized project implementation.
Moreover, we maintain continuous communication and structured accountability processes with the communities. Through regular workshops, capacity-building sessions, and progress reporting, we strengthen local governance, foster trust, and ensure that communities actively oversee and influence project execution.
How is governance structured, and how is land tenure secured?
Indigenous communities retain full autonomy over their lands and project governance. Before implementation, the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process was conducted, ensuring that over 90% of families in all participating territories formally approved the project. Decisions are made through traditional governance structures, such as the Council of Community Chiefs (Asamblea de Capitanes), where indigenous leaders collectively determine project priorities. Elders and knowledge keepers also play a crucial role, ensuring cultural alignment with conservation efforts.
Land tenure security is reinforced by Colombia’s 1991 Constitution (Article 63), which declares indigenous territories inalienable, imprescriptible, and unseizable. This means project areas cannot be sold, transferred, or claimed by external entities. Additionally, contractual agreements and safeguard mechanisms further ensure that indigenous ownership and autonomy remain legally protected.
How are risks such as illegal logging, wildfires, and mining mitigated?
Each project includes an integrated risk management plan with early warning systems, active community surveillance, and intervention strategies. Risk assessments are conducted periodically, using satellite imagery and local intelligence to detect and address potential threats. In case of environmental disturbances, immediate response mechanisms include containment measures, reforestation initiatives, and coordinated actions with indigenous governance structures. Additionally, community patrols play a critical role in identifying risks early and implementing mitigation strategies.
How is project security ensured within the Colombian national context?
Colombia’s dynamic political environment presents challenges for long-term conservation, particularly in remote territories where government presence has historically been minimal. Human Forest mitigates these risks through full financial and operational transparency, independent third-party audits, and strict validation mechanisms. Project funds are directly managed by indigenous communities, reducing external interference and ensuring resources are allocated as planned.
Unlike government-led initiatives, which can be affected by shifting policies, our private-sector REDD+ projects provide continuity and resilience. Given the frequent administrative changes in Colombia, relying on public conservation programs can be uncertain. By operating independently of political cycles, Human Forest ensures that conservation efforts remain uninterrupted, protecting forests and securing long-term benefits for indigenous communities.