Forestal Río Aquidabán: Where Reforestation, Ranching, and Regeneration Converge

a day ago

4 min read

Carbonmark is proud to welcome a new listing to the marketplace: Forestal Río Aquidabán, a reforestation project in northeastern Paraguay that is reviving degraded lands, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and empowering rural communities through sustainable land stewardship.

Bird's view shows the transition between the project area and the surrounding grassland.

This is not just a carbon project. It’s a living example of how climate action, biodiversity conservation, and local livelihoods can thrive together.

Why This Land, and Why This Project?

Paraguay, like many countries in Latin America, faces severe deforestation pressures—largely driven by expanding soy cultivation and cattle ranching. Between 2001 and 2021, Paraguay lost over 5.5 million hectares of tree cover, according to Global Forest Watch, representing a 30% decrease in its total forested area. The country’s Gran Chaco region—which includes the department of Concepción—is one of the fastest-deforesting ecosystems in the world, losing forest at rates comparable to the Amazon basin.

That’s where Forestal Río Aquidabán comes in.

Entrance to the project area of “Forestal Río Aquidabán” in Paraguay.

Launched in 1999, the project brings 301 hectares of degraded grassland back into ecological function using a silvopastoral agroforestry model—a system that integrates trees and pastureland to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and provide economic benefits through sustainable cattle farming. This synergetic approach ensures that reforestation efforts not only sequester carbon but also remain viable for the people managing the land.

Integrity rooted in nature — and now officially on the ledger of ICR

The project follows the AR-ACM0003 methodology, a framework developed under the UN Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) for afforestation and reforestation of lands other than wetlands. Forestal Río Aquidabán is officially certified under the International Carbon Registry (ICR) – a forward-looking registry designed for trust, transparency, and traceability in the voluntary carbon market.

Key features of ICR include:

Trusted governance – endorsed by ICROA, the voluntary carbon market’s integrity program, ICR project listing guarantees top-tier credit integrity.
Rigorous methodology framework – based on ISO 14064, ICR accepts only specific methodologies (e.g. CDM’s AR-ACM0003) and adds dedicated tools for SDG contributions and social & ecological safeguards.
Reversal risk management – third-party risk assessment determines project-specific buffer contributions, mandates risk mitigation, and allows compensation of any reversals.
Digital-first ledger – public-blockchain records with tamper-proof timestamps make every tonne traceable from issuance to retirement.
Plug-and-play MRV – open APIs let sensor & satellite providers stream data directly into the registry, slashing audit time and boosting trust.
Marketplace-ready – instant listing and retirement via partners like Carbonmark mean buyers can execute and verify transactions in seconds.

Each issued tonne is scientifically validated, independently verified, and transparently traceable from origin to retirement, giving buyers full confidence in climate impact.

Forestal Río Aquidabán underwent third-party validation and verification by TÜV Rheinland Energy and Environment GmbH, with oversight under the ICR Registry (Project ID #349). The project is aligned with ISO 14064-2:2019 and meets ICR’s v6.0 requirements for carbon removals.

Carbon Impact and Climate Contribution

The numbers speak volumes:

Verified Carbon Removal: 8,172 tCO₂e per year
Total Projected Removals by 2045: Over 504,000 tCO₂e
Crediting Period: 1999–2045

That’s over half a million tonnes of atmospheric carbon captured through a project that prioritizes environmental restoration and financial equity.

Wildlife Comes Home: Biodiversity in Focus

But carbon is only part of the story. Forestal Río Aquidabán is also a biodiversity hotspot in recovery. With the help of Biometrio.earth, the project team is conducting cutting-edge biodiversity monitoring using camera traps, acoustic devices, and AI-powered analysis.

Preparation of wildlife cameras for the biodiversity monitoring in Paraguay by a local technician.

Since 2024, these tools have captured data on species such as:

Cougars (Puma concolor)
Anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
Red-legged seriemas (Cariama cristata)
Ñandu (Rhea americana)
Armadillos (Euphractus sexcinctus)
Maikong foxes (Cerdocyon thous).

The return of these species signals ecological resilience and ecosystem services being restored.

A Family-Run Climate Solution

Perhaps the most powerful part of this project’s story is its human dimension.

Three generations of the project partner's family of “Forestal Río Aquidabán” in Paraguay are sitting in front of their farm.

Forestal Río Aquidabán is co-managed by a local Paraguayan cattle farmer and his family, who participate in a carbon revenue-sharing agreement with project owner Global Wood International AG. Today, three generations of that family work the land—planting trees, monitoring growth, and managing livestock sustainably. Their livelihood is directly tied to the success of the forest.

This isn’t just climate action. It’s intergenerational equity in action.

Contributing to the SDGs

The project contributes to eight UN Sustainable Development Goals, including:

Life on Land (SDG 15): Restores degraded land and halts biodiversity loss
Climate Action (SDG 13): Removes atmospheric CO₂
Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6): Improves watershed stability
Zero Hunger (SDG 2): Boosts food security through agroforestry
Quality Education (SDG 4): Builds technical skills among local teams
Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8): Generates income through carbon credit benefit sharing
Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17): Public-private cooperation
Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10): Supports rural development