Protecting the climate, community and biodiversity, by conserving a tropical forest in Borneo with sustainable social and economic co-benefits.

The Project

The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve Project is protecting 65,000 hectares of tropical peat swamp forest, which is home to a rich array of species including the endangered orangutan and is culturally connected to the local community.

Indonesia is one of the world’s largest producers of palm oil, and there has been continued pressure to increase this production which puts forests like that of Rimba Raya under threat of destruction.

The project’s vision is to develop a project that harnesses the global carbon market in order to successfully compete with commercial agricultural interests and provide social and environmental benefits that would otherwise be difficult to attain.

In addition to conserving biodiversity and a precious forest ecosystem, the project is designed with community and social co-bene its at its core. The project is helping increase access to clean drinking water, create more equal job opportunities, healthcare clinics, education programs and materials, creation of community centers and the provision of renewable energy. The local community has been integral to the planning and development of the project since its inception.

This carbon offset project is also protecting the integrity of the adjacent world-renowned Tanjung Puting National Park, by creating a physical buffer zone across the~90km eastern border of the park.

The carbon stocks and biodiversity of the forest are protected by a comprehensive monitoring system, fire and logging patrols, and ongoing ecological surveys.

The Rimba Raya project has verified contributions to all 17 United Nations Sustainable DevelopmentGoals.

The Key Project Facts:

Type: Avoided deforestation

‍Location: Central Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo

‍Emissions Reduction: 127,330,645tonnes of CO2e over project lifetime‍

Vintage: 2014‍

Certification: Verra Verified CarbonStandard

Key Project Objectives:

+ Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

+ Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including young people and persons with disabilities, equal pay and for work of equal value.

+ Promote the sustainable management of all types of forest, halt deforestation, restore degraded forest and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

+ Ensure sustainable food production systems by better managing productivity and incomes of small scale producers.

+ Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.

+ Ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy.

Sustainable Development Goals

Life on Land

Indonesia has the largest number of threatened mammal species and the fourth largest total across flora and fauna species.

Climate Action

Avoiding deforestation will prevent the release of more than 100million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

Clean Water and Sanitation

By minimizing land-use change, the project is helping to prevent downstream flooding.

Zero Hunger

Training on the growth of cash crops such as fruit trees offers communities an alternative source of income.

Decent Work and Economic Growth

The project is building community centers offering facilities for park and project staff as well as for community organizations.