Chaco Vivo: Protecting the Gran Chaco
Paraguay's largest REDD+ conservation initiative, safeguarding 187,916 hectares of one of South America's most biodiverse forests while empowering Indigenous communities and fighting climate change.
Paraguay's Flagship Conservation Initiative
Chaco Vivo is Paraguay's largest REDD+ project, developed under VERRA's Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCBS) with Triple Gold Distinction. Spanning 187,916 hectares (over 1,800 square kilometers) in the Paraguayan Chaco, the project safeguards one of the area's last continuous private forests.
The Gran Chaco is the second-largest forest in South America after the Amazon, yet it faces one of the highest deforestation rates in the world—63 hectares per hour (156 acres) are being lost to agricultural expansion. Legal deforestation for cattle ranching and soy production threatens to eliminate this critical ecosystem.
Chaco Vivo represents a transformative approach to conservation, combining large-scale forest protection with sustainable development and Indigenous community empowerment. The project will mitigate the release of over 30 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions during its crediting period while delivering measurable social and environmental co-benefits.
As a flagship project in the Midori Earth ecosystem, Chaco Vivo exemplifies high-integrity carbon project development with real, verifiable outcomes and institutional-grade documentation.
Powered by Midori Earth
Bringing AI and automation to nature-based carbon projects, transforming how conservation delivers climate impact at scale.
From Spreadsheets to Intelligent Systems
Carbon project management has traditionally been slow, manual, and error-prone. Midori Earth changes everything. Our platform integrates AI and automation across the entire project lifecycle, turning months of work into days and replacing guesswork with precision.
Midori Hub™
Carbon Project Management PlatformAI-Powered Intelligence
LLM-driven document analysis, automated compliance checks, predictive monitoring alerts, and intelligent report generation reduce manual workload by up to 80%.
Scale
Manage portfolios, not just projects
Transparency
Every action tracked and auditable
Efficiency
Weeks become days, days become hours
Value
Higher integrity credits, better returns
Fighting Climate Change Through Conservation
Chaco Vivo delivers measurable, verified environmental outcomes at scale.
Avoided Planned Deforestation
Preventing legally sanctioned deforestation by providing economic alternatives to forest conversion for cattle and soy production.
Verified Carbon Standard
Registered under VERRA's VCS program, the world's most widely used voluntary GHG program ensuring credible carbon accounting.
Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard
Achieved Triple Gold distinction under CCBS, the highest rating for exceptional climate, community, and biodiversity benefits.
Protecting Life in the Gran Chaco
A living laboratory of unique species found nowhere else on Earth.
Dry Forest Ecosystem
The Gran Chaco's unique dry tropical forest supports an extraordinary variety of life adapted to seasonal drought cycles.
187,916 ha protectedEndemic Species
Home to the Chacoan Peccary, thought extinct until 1971 and found only in this region of South America.
Critical habitatAvian Corridor
A vital migration corridor for over 500 bird species connecting the Amazon basin to the Southern Cone.
Year-round refugeApex Predators
One of the last strongholds for the jaguar and puma in Paraguay, maintaining ecosystem balance.
IUCN monitoredEndangered Species Under Protection
Active monitoring and habitat preservation for threatened wildlife
People First: Indigenous Empowerment
Chaco Vivo places Indigenous communities at the heart of conservation success.
Central to Chaco Vivo's mission is the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) Protocol, a globally recognized covenant ensuring the voices of Indigenous populations are not just heard but heeded. The project has forged a strategic alliance with the Paraguayan National Indigenous Institute (INDI) to uphold integrity and ensure meticulous execution of community partnerships.
The project impacts 14 Indigenous communities and rural centers including the town of Puerto Casado, with comprehensive social programs designed to create lasting positive change while respecting traditional ways of life.
Social Impact Programs
Comprehensive initiatives addressing all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Production
Combating food security issues through sustainable agricultural initiatives and traditional farming support
Economic Development
Creating circular economies and new income generation opportunities for local communities
Youth & Women
Targeted livelihood improvements and empowerment programs for youth and women
Healthcare Access
Enhancing local healthcare systems and improving access to medical services
Education
Community education programs and support for local schools and learning initiatives
FPIC Protocol
Full Free, Prior, and Informed Consent ensuring Indigenous voices guide all decisions
Contributing to All 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals
Chaco Vivo's holistic approach to conservation and community development meaningfully contributes to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, addressing critical challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and socio-economic development through inclusive strategies.
Project Milestones
Project Initiated
Chaco Vivo formally launched as a response to pressing deforestation challenges in the Gran Chaco region.
VERRA Submission
Project submitted to VERRA (Project 3671), entering the pipeline as a credible REDD+ project under VCS and CCBS standards.
UN Presentation & INDI Partnership
Presented at UN UNCITRAL in Vienna. Forged strategic alliance with Paraguay's National Indigenous Institute.
Public Consultation Complete
Completed 30-day public consultation period. Featured at Paraguay's first Carbon Market Experiences forum.
Midori Earth Partnership
Onboarded to Midori Earth platform. Expansion plans target 500,000+ hectares over the next 5 years.
Validation & Verification
Validation and Verification Reports submitted to VERRA. Site audit completed by VVB Carbon Check.
Credit Issuance & Expansion
Q1 first carbon credit issuance for monitoring period 2022-2023. Expansion of area under conservation, increasing impact and GHG reductions.
The Gran Chaco: South America's Second Largest Forest
The Gran Chaco spans 130 million acres across Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Its massive forests are home to unique vegetation and wildlife, including 3,400 plant species and 500 bird species. Nine million people live in the Gran Chaco, including several Indigenous communities.
Project Partners
A collaboration between leading conservation and development organizations.
Be Part of the Solution
Learn more about how Chaco Vivo and the Midori Earth ecosystem are creating real, measurable environmental impact.