Selva de Urundel

Positive impact generated

Context

The Yungas forest is one of Argentina’s most biodiverse ecosystems but is threatened by deforestation, fires and unsustainable agriculture. Selva de Urundel protects native forest while generating climate, biodiversity and community benefits.

The Yungas ecoregion, located on the eastern slope of the Andes, is a biodiversity hotspot providing essential ecosystem services such as water regulation and climate mitigation. However, illegal logging, agricultural expansion, cattle ranching and wildfires are driving rapid deforestation and habitat loss. These pressures increase desertification, temperature rise and ecosystem fragmentation. Selva de Urundel was developed to halt unplanned deforestation, safeguard carbon stocks and create a biological corridor between Calilegua and Baritú National Parks, contributing to global climate stability and local environmental resilience.

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Stakeholders and local partners

Who are the key stakeholders?

The project is developed by Carbon Credits Consulting and locally implemented by Rodriguez Nocetti S.R.L., owner of the Finca de Urundel and responsible for on-site management and long-term land stewardship. A multidisciplinary technical team ensures compliance with VCS and CCB standards and the continuous improvement of REDD+ activities. Local communities of Urundel and Colonia Santa Rosa are key stakeholders and benefit from training, job creation, sustainable production initiatives, waste management programmes and environmental education. Collaboration with local institutions and fire-fighting teams strengthens wildfire prevention and response. The project also contributes to national and international climate and biodiversity goals.

Project Developer:

Objectives and approach

Avoid unplanned deforestation, protect carbon stocks and biodiversity, and improve local livelihoods through a long-term REDD+ conservation and sustainable development model.

The project aims to permanently conserve the native forest of the Yungas, preventing large-scale deforestation and forest degradation and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it strengthens biodiversity conservation through habitat monitoring and the protection of threatened species, combating illegal activities and fires through control, patrol, and rapid response systems. In parallel, it promotes sustainable land use models, supports the transition to responsible production practices, and creates new job and training opportunities for local communities. Social and environmental initiatives improve well-being, food self-sufficiency, and awareness of the value of the forest, ensuring the long-term ecological connection between protected areas in the region.

The project applies REDD+ methodologies under VCS and CCB-Gold standards, combining satellite monitoring, machine-learning-based early fire detection and on-ground forest patrols. Conservation areas are clearly delimited and constantly monitored to prevent illegal activities. Fire management includes trained brigades, strategic infrastructure and coordination with local institutions. Biodiversity is monitored through camera traps and biological transects. Community activities focus on sustainable livelihoods, environmental training, waste management and food self-production. Continuous technical oversight and local management guarantee permanence, adaptive management and measurable climate, biodiversity and social impacts.