Biodiversity — Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (Bio-REDD+)
In recent years, deforestation in Colombia has more than doubled, and climate change has increased the frequency of extreme weather, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity. In response, the USAID Biodiversity — Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (Bio-REDD+) project collaborated with the Colombian government to equip communities to sustainably manage their environmental resources. To mitigate climate change, Bio-REDD+ helped communities become eligible to earn marketable carbon credits in exchange for conserving their forests and investing in sustainable income-generating activities. In partnership with the private sector, Bio-REDD+ also worked with small-scale gold miners to formalize and legalize their mining operations and introduce them to improved practices, like no-mercury processing.
