The Trocano Project REDD+ Brazil is a long-term forest conservation initiative operating in the municipality of Borba, in the state of Amazonas, within the Brazilian Amazon. The project focuses on protecting large areas of tropical forest while supporting sustainable land-use practices and long-term environmental stewardship.
Borba sits within one of the most ecologically important regions of the Amazon basin, where forest ecosystems play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and the livelihoods of local communities. The Trocano Project works within this landscape to reduce pressures that contribute to deforestation while supporting coordinated forest protection across the region.
The project operates in partnership with local stakeholders in Borba and is implemented in collaboration with Go Balance, the project developer responsible for coordinating monitoring systems and reporting under recognised REDD+ methodologies.
The Forest and Region
The municipality of Borba, Amazonas is characterised by extensive areas of tropical rainforest, rivers, and forest-dependent communities. Like many regions in the Amazon, Borba faces a range of land-use pressures including agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and resource extraction.
Protecting forest landscapes in this region requires long-term collaboration between communities, public authorities, and project partners. The Trocano Project was designed to support this collaborative approach by aligning forest conservation activities with local governance structures and land-use planning.
The Trocano Project
The Trocano Project began operating in 2011 as a long-term programme focused on forest protection and climate mitigation. Key characteristics of the project include:
- Location: Borba, Amazonas, Brazil
- Project type: Jurisdictional REDD+ forest conservation initiative
- Operational commencement: 2011
- Standard: Natural Forest Standard (NFS) methodology AM001.1b
- Implementation partnership: Go Balance and municipal stakeholders
- Independent verification: Accredited Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs)
The project follows a long-term implementation model and works through integration with local governance structures, supporting coordinated forest protection across the jurisdiction.
How the Project Works
The Trocano Project applies REDD+ principles to reduce emissions associated with deforestation and forest degradation. These principles focus on protecting existing forests while supporting sustainable land-use practices that reduce pressure on natural ecosystems.
Under the applicable methodology framework, the project includes:
- monitoring forest cover and land-use change over time
- modelling baseline deforestation scenarios
- applying conservative carbon accounting methods
- periodic independent verification of emissions reductions
This process allows the project to measure and document climate benefits associated with avoided deforestation.
Monitoring and Environmental Data
Monitoring systems are essential to ensuring that forest protection outcomes can be measured over time. The Trocano Project uses a combination of:
- satellite-based forest monitoring
- geospatial data analysis
- biomass and carbon stock modelling
- periodic performance assessments
These tools allow project partners to track forest conditions across the jurisdiction and evaluate long-term conservation outcomes.
Community Collaboration
Forest protection in the Amazon depends heavily on collaboration with communities and local stakeholders. The Trocano Project works with partners in Borba to support initiatives that align forest conservation with local development priorities.
Examples of project-related activities have included:
- environmental education programmes
- support for sustainable livelihood initiatives
- stingless-bee honey production projects
- clean water initiatives
- health outreach activities
- partnerships with regional technical institutions
These activities help strengthen long-term engagement with communities and support sustainable forest stewardship.
Project Partnership
The Trocano Project operates through collaboration between local stakeholders and project partners. Implementation support is provided by Go Balance, which coordinates monitoring systems, project documentation, and reporting under recognised REDD+ standards.
Independent validation and verification of the project is conducted by accredited Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) to ensure that monitoring results and emissions reduction calculations are assessed against recognised methodological requirements.
Long-Term Forest Protection
Forest conservation programmes require sustained management over long time horizons. The Trocano Project is designed as a long-term initiative that supports:
- continuous forest monitoring
- coordination with local governance structures
- adaptive management as conditions evolve
- sustained environmental stewardship
Through these activities, the project contributes to protecting forest ecosystems while supporting climate mitigation efforts in the Brazilian Amazon.
For a simplified overview, see About the Trocano Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Trocano Project located?
The project operates in the municipality of Borba in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, within the Brazilian Amazon.
When did the project begin?
The Trocano Project began operating in 2011 as a long-term forest conservation programme.
What type of project is it?
The project follows a jurisdictional REDD+ approach, meaning forest protection activities operate across a defined administrative area rather than at a single site.
Who implements the project?
The project operates in partnership with local stakeholders and is implemented in collaboration with Go Balance, which supports monitoring coordination and reporting.
How are results verified?
Independent accredited Validation and Verification Bodies (VVBs) conduct validation and verification under recognised carbon methodologies.