Piauí Initiates Jurisdictional Carbon Credit Scheme for REDD+ in Partnership with Silvania, Aiming to Counter Deforestation
In a significant stride towards combating deforestation and promoting sustainable development, the Brazilian state of Piaui has partnered with Silvania, a natural capital investment platform, and Mercuria, a commodities trading house, to launch a jurisdictional REDD+ carbon credit program. This initiative is part of a broader state-led carbon project and is a key component of Silvania's "Race to Belém" campaign, as Brazil prepares to host COP30 in Belém this November.
The program, which aims to halt deforestation and promote sustainable development, is certified under ART TREES standards, a gold standard that ensures credibility and transparency for jurisdictional REDD+ credits. This certification underscores Brazil's climate leadership on the global stage.
Silvania's Brazil Director, Celso Fiori, expressed pride in the level of ambition shown by the State of Piauí. He highlighted that if Piauí achieves a 10% annual reduction in deforestation, it could generate over 20 million credits by 2030.
The partnership aligns with Brazil’s national climate ambitions, contributing to the country's broader strategy aligned with global carbon markets and offset frameworks. The initiative is a major step toward advancing high-integrity carbon markets.
The program covers a broader territory to minimise the risk of displacing deforestation and is government-led and community-focused. It emphasises benefits for traditional communities and the expansion of sustainable agriculture. The CEO of Silvania, Eelco Hoekstra, emphasised how public-private partnerships can drive impactful climate action while empowering local communities and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Silvania will invest between BRL 10-20 million to support the program's development and help the state achieve ART TREES certification. The agreement was signed in Geneva.
The technical development of the program will be led by Geonoma, a sustainability and biodiversity firm, and Systemica, a Brazilian carbon asset management company. The initiative's carbon credits could be sold to countries and corporations seeking to meet their emissions targets. Silvania will serve as the offtaker of the credits, positioning the program to attract global buyers.
Piauí plays a pivotal role in balancing environmental protection and economic growth, particularly in the MATOPIBA region, a major global agricultural frontier. The program's success in Piauí is a continuation of Silvania's success in Tocantins.
This collaboration underscores Brazil's commitment to sustainable development and carbon credit generation, contributing significantly to the global fight against climate change. The program is operational, progressing through formal agreements, and poised to make a substantial environmental and carbon market impact by mid-century.
- The science-based program, certified under ART TREES standards, leverages technology to combat climate-change and promote biodiversity, aligning with Brazil’s national climate ambitions and global carbon markets.
- Silvania, as the offtaker of the carbon credits, utilizes finance and business strategies to attract global buyers, while Geonoma and Systemica provide technical expertise in sustainability, biodiversity, and carbon asset management.
- The government-led and community-focused program in Piaui, a major agricultural frontier, showcases environmental-science solutions to balance economic growth, empowering local communities and promoting sustainable agriculture, all in the pursuit of addressing climate-change and ensuring biodiversity preservation.
