In light of the publication of “Two Shades of Green: How hot air forest credits are being used to avoid carbon taxes in Colombia” (2021) by Carbon Market Watch (CMW), triggering a chain reaction of media coverage, including “Offsets being used in Colombia to dodge carbon taxes – report” (2021) by The Guardian and “El mayor proyecto de bonos de carbono de Colombia podría estar vendiendo aire caliente” (2021) by Mongabay; the technical team of the REDD+ Matavén Project aims to address inaccuracies and provide a comprehensive presentation of the Project baseline fundamentals, ensuring technical-scientific rigor to counter disinformation.
The CMW publication and related media coverage, are grounded in misleading premises and have spurred a negative media frenzy surrounding the REDD+ Matavén Project. Key issues raised include questions about the Project’s Baseline validity, the selection of the Reference Region, and comparisons between data and deforestation rates. These concerns stem from speculative assumptions, as Gilles Dufrasne (CMW) employs language that does not commit to the certainty of what it is said; resulting in media reports that have perpetuated these uncertainties.
The document presented below is intended to provide a detailed clarification, employing a methodical and thorough approach. We extend an invitation to journalists, readers, researchers, academics, indigenous communities, and the general public to review the document provided below, as well as the comprehensive and verified documentation of the Project, which is publicly accessible on Verra’s website: https://registry.verra.org/app/projectDetail/VCS/1566
Our aim is to encourage a technical-scientific and social dialogue that promotes constructive discussion based on factual evidence, thereby avoiding inaccuracies and misconceptions propagated in the CMW publication (2021) and subsequent media articles.
We appreciate the opportunity to address these matters and reaffirm our unwavering dedication to advancing effective and sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
About the REDD+ Matavén Project: This initiative is dedicated to stopping deforestation and preserving the tropical forests within the Resguardo Indígena Unificado de la Selva de Matavén in Colombia, while safeguarding its biodiversity and improving their indigenous people’s quality of life. The REDD+ Matavén Project has received international certification and validation from Verra, meeting the criteria of two worldwide standards: the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCB). To date, the Project has successfully undergone three verifications in accordance with the VCS and one verification under the CCB standards.