Site Visit: Carbon Monitoring

During COP16 in Cali, we seized the opportunity to showcase our restoration efforts with two impactful site visits to our project areas, in Antioquia, Colombia. A site visit, as we like to say, is “worth a thousand words”. For the first visit, NatureRe co-founder Marie-Sophie and Eliana, head of nature restoration, welcomed potential investors for an immersive experience at the site, near Puerto Berrío. For the second visit, Destin from our strategic partner, Catona Climate, joined us to witness how far we’ve come in our restoration process, since purchasing the land in end of 2022. Each visit included a carefully planned itinerary that allowed us to showcase both the detailed science and the visible changes on the land.

Carbon Monitoring

Perfectly timed, a carbon monitoring team was onsite, gathering essential measurements crucial for verifying our carbon credits. Over the course of two weeks, four teams of three specialists collected data from 69 randomly selected parcels across our Managua and Bengala farms, along with 11 reference points in the baseline healthy forest, Abundacia. Following David, the head of carbon monitoring, we walked through the fields to observe the teams’ work. Each parcel, with a 12.6-meter diameter, was surveyed to measure large trees for height and width. Within each parcel, a 2.8-meter parcel was delimited, and all small trees were measured. Each parcel was marked, and labelled, according to it’s size, specie and geographic point. Botanical samples were collected from the trees to validate their identification with the collection at the Universidad de Antioquia herbarium, an essential step to assess biodiversity levels and document native species.

This meticulous data collection, which takes place every two years, is a key part of our carbon monitoring process, ensuring accurate calculations of carbon capture for validation by Verra. Verification by Verra marks an essential stage in generating certified carbon credits, reinforcing NatureRe’s commitment to transparency and reliability. The data gathered not only supports carbon accounting but also provides insights into ecosystem health, species variety, and restoration progress, which inform our adaptive management approach to Assisted Natural Regeneration.

Restoration Progress

The horseback ride through the Managua farm and the Bengala farm allowed us to appreciate the tangible progress of ANR over the past two years. The land we’ve been restoring is thriving compared to neighbouring areas still used for cattle ranching. Trees have grown up to 5 meters, and natural brush is flourishing. With the rainy season in full swing, everything appeared lush and vibrant, a testament to the resilience of the ecosystem and our adaptive methods. It’s rewarding to see firsthand how ANR and favourable conditions are working together to accelerate nature’s recovery.

Tree Nursery

In the coming year, we plan to create a women-led nursery that will produce seedlings of native species, supporting both biodiversity and local livelihoods. The implementation of the nursery will be gradual, seeking first to reach the production of the species of faster and easier germination and growth, with the remaining species (slower germination and growth) to follow. The nursery will be located on Managua land, with ideal access to water and infrastructure that once served as a cattle vaccination site. The nursery will be led by women of the community, generating positive economic and social benefits to the local community, further internalising parts of our project implementation.

The River

Finally, we visited the Nus River, which flows across our land. Rivers are lifelines in these ecosystems, providing water for both the land and the surrounding communities. A healthy forest plays a vital role in regulating water quality and flow, enhancing ecosystem services. We are conducting water quality assessments to ensure we’re not just restoring forests, but supporting the surrounding watershed.

Site visits remind us of the importance of staying connected to the land, both to monitor progress and to adapt our work as needed. For investors and partners, it’s a powerful opportunity to see ANR’s impact firsthand. These visits allow us to share NatureRe’s vision up close, proving that a thriving, sustainable future is not only possible but underway.

Stay tuned for more updates from the field as we continue our mission to restore nature and showcase the resilience of the land, one site visit at a time.