At COP27, Ecosphere+ and AIDER supported the attendance of an indigenous-led group of climate leaders from the Peruvian Amazon.

Made up of indigenous spokespeople, a forestry engineer and NGO staff, this diverse delegation brought vital perspectives to COP27 to unearth much-needed dialogue around implementing effective and equitable solutions to climate change that are rooted in nature.

Ecosphere+ and AIDER, partners who together develop and bring to market some of the world’s leading carbon projects, are dedicated to equipping local and indigenous communities on the front lines of climate change, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss. With generational knowledge and vital context, these communities are central to developing resilient and long-term solutions that truly work at the landscape scale. ‘Natural climate solutions’ (NCS) harness the power of nature to mitigate climate change, and are capable of delivering profound positive outcomes when developed with integrity and governed transparently.

At COP27, it was crucial to make clear how high-quality, indigenous-led NCS projects can deliver effective and immediate climate mitigation, with meaningful environmental and social impact today for the long term. This is paramount if we are to build trust in the carbon market and mobilise the finance that is required to protect nature and meet our climate goals at the scale necessary.

The Nii Kaniti REDD+ Project, Peru

The Nii Kaniti REDD+ project in Peru works to protect rainforest and avoid deforestation on indigenous land through scaling up sustainable forest management in partnership with seven indigenous communities. The project is developed by the Peruvian NGO, AIDER, and brought to market by Ecosphere+.

Located in the Ucayali region of Eastern Peru on the edge of the Amazon Rainforest, the Nii Kaniti project protects more than 127,000 hectares of critical rainforest ecosystem. As a result, the project has reduced global emissions by 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 to date.

Indigenous communities are the second largest managers of forest land in Peru, and therefore are key actors and critical to successful forest conservation. The project addresses the local, economic drivers of deforestation and forest degradation by supporting the development of socially inclusive businesses.

The Nii Kaniti project is made possible in part through a partnership called the ‘Forest Alliance Initiative: Managing Community Forests for Inclusive Sustainable Businesses in an Indigenous Economy’ between AIDER, Mirova Natural Capital (and the Althelia Climate Fund and Ecosphere+), and USAID.

High-quality carbon projects like the Nii Kaniti project, financed through the carbon market, are critical to conserving ecosystems like the Amazon and reducing global carbon emissions. Nii Kaniti, and all of AIDER’s high-impact projects, will aim to align with the current process led by MINAM for new regulations on REDD+. These projects will also aim to fully align with proposals from indigenous organisations.

Engagement

Through speaking and engagement opportunities, the Ecosphere+ and AIDER delegation shone the light on indigenous perspectives and provided a platform for key voices to be heard. 

Ecosphere+ is the direct and exclusive market representative for many of AIDER’s projects, including the Peruvian Nii Kaniti REDD+ Project.

About Ecosphere+ & AIDER

Ecosphere+ has transacted over 45 million carbon credits since 2016, pioneering best-practice in carbon offsetting. We are a direct project representative, connecting our clients to a global and exclusive supply of high-quality carbon credits that deliver key core benefits for climate, nature and people, underpinned by first class verifications and ratings. Through innovative contract structures, we provide a route to market for the world’s leading carbon credit projects and enable businesses to scale environmental and social action.

Our approach is rooted in a leading standards and impact reporting framework that ensures quality and enables trust. In this way, we have brought integrity and innovation to deliver some of the largest corporate solutions in the carbon market. With a carbon consequence to every decision we make, this market should be the biggest in the world. We advocate for transparency and accountability as the market scales.

Ecosphere+ is a proud B Corp and accredited to ICROA – the chief framework for quality assurance in carbon offsetting.

 

AIDER is a leading Peruvian NGO in environmental conservation and sustainable development in Peru with over 35 years of work and experience promoting forest resources management and social responsibility in small producers of native communities and hamlets. Our goal is to conserve and sustainably utilize Peru’s forests in harmony with the conventions of biological diversity, climate change and combating desertification and drought. AIDER has managed initiatives for sustainable use of forests and has experience in community engagement, capacity-building, and operation of restoration projects in Peru, strengthening indigenous communities’ capacity to monitor deforestation of communal forests for REDD+, as well as water management in dry forest in Costa Rica and Peru.

Delegation details

Attendance at COP27: 8th-18th November, 2022

Location: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in-person attendance

Indigenous Representatives:

Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader

Berlin Diques, President of the Regional Organisation AIDESEP Ucayali – ORAU

AIDER Representatives:

Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez, Head of Project Management at AIDER

Pio Santiago Puertas, Forestry Engineer and Regional Coordinator at AIDER

Giancarlo Ramirez, Communications Manager at AIDER

Ecosphere+ Representatives:

Sophie Arndt, Communications & Engagement Manager at Ecosphere+

Daniel Fisher, Technical Manager at Ecosphere+

Schedule of events

Stories from the frontlines by indigenous leader Diana Mori – how carbon markets empower the Amazon’s indigenous peoples

Date and time: 10 November 2022, 10:05am – 10:20am local time

Location: Plenary session, Paris Room, Sustainable Innovation Forum, Climate Action Innovation Zone

Description: The World Economic Forum’s Anthony Hobley will sit down with Diana Mori, a female businesswoman and indigenous spokesperson from the Peruvian Amazon. In an on-stage interview, Anthony and Diana will discuss the ins and outs of indigenous-led Natural Climate Solutions and how the carbon market is delivering tangible benefits for communities, ecosystems and species today for the long term.

Speakers:

  • Interviewer: Anthony Hobley, Executive Fellow, Strategic Engagement, Centre for Nature and Climate at the World Economic Forum
  • Interviewee: Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader
  • Interviewee, and translator: Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez, Head of Project Management at AIDER

In-person registration details: Please register for the Sustainable Innovation Forum here.

Virtual registration details: Please register for virtual attendance here.

Live interview with Belin Diques, President of the Regional Organisation AIDESEP Ucayali – ORAU

Date and time: 10 November 2022, 4pm local time

Location: Nature Positive Newsroom, Blue Zone

Description: In this live interview, Berlin will speak to the challenges faced by indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon, and why it’s critical that all solutions rooted in conserving the Amazon must be led by indigenous communities.

 

Indigenous Voices in Decarbonisation

Date and time: 11 November 2022, 10.30am-11.30am local time (15-minute segment during news hour)

Location: The Nature Positive Newsroom (Blue Zone), the Daily Nature Positive News Hour

Description: A facilitated 15-minute panel looking specifically at the Amazon Rainforest and how indigenous communities are contributing towards decarbonisation.

Speakers:

  • Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader
  • Dr. Francisco Souza, Managing Director, FSC Indigenous Foundation

Registration: Register to view the live stream here.

Indigenous-led REDD+ Programs in the Amazon

Date: November 11, 2022, 4:45pm – 5:45pm local time

Location: We Mean Business Coalition Pavilion, Auditorium A, within the Blue Zone

Description: This four-speaker panel (two Indigenous speakers and two representing conservation NGOs) will spotlight nature-based climate solutions from two multi-stakeholder REDD+ programs in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon respectively.  We will explore how each of these programs facilitates Indigenous participation, leadership, and meaningful benefits-sharing.

Pastaza, Ecuador case study:  Lolita Piyahuaje and Matt Clark will discuss the multi-stakeholder jurisdictional REDD+ program launched in 2021 in Pastaza province with the provincial government and local governments, Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), seven Indigenous Nationalities, and several conservation NGOs as partners.

They will discuss structural factors and processes (e.g. inclusive governance and decision-making bodies, use of Free Prior and Informed Consent protocols) and intangible factors (i.e. trust-building) that are contributing to program success.

Ucayali, PerĂș case study:  Diana Mori and Marioldy Sanchez will discuss the Nii Kaniti REDD+ project in Ucayali Department, which generates carbon credits for the voluntary market.

They will share the experience of Shipibo – Conibo Indigenous communities in developing responsible forest management programs rooted in their culture and how sustainable revenue streams build resilience in their communities.  They will also highlight challenges faced and lessons learned by REDD+ project developers in PerĂș.

Speakers:

  • Lolita Piyahuaje, indigenous leader of the Siekopai Nationality of Ecuador
  • Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader
  • Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez, Head of Project Management at AIDER
  • Matt Clark, CEO of Nature and Culture International

In-person registration: No registration required

Virtual attendance: N/A

Integrating Indigenous Peoples in the NDC process through capacity development (EVENT IN SPANISH ONLY)

Date: 16 November 2022, 10:25am – 11:25am local time

Location: UNFCCC Capacity Building Hub, Blue Zone

Description: This joint event will bring together the FSC Indigenous Foundation, the Mesoamerican Alliance for Peoples and Forest, AIDER and Ecosphere+ to discuss the capacity development process for indigenous peoples and local communities and the opportunities presented to them by being more empowered to influence national discussions.

Speakers:

  • Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader
  • Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez, Head of Project Management at AIDER (speaker and translator)
  • Levi Sucre, Coordinator, AMPB Alianza Mesoamericana de Pueblos y Bosques

In-person registration: All CB Hub events are open to all registered (to COP27 and have accreditation to enter the blue zone) individuals and organizations to join the events in-person.

Virtual registration: Registration not needed, view the livestream through the PCCB’s YouTube channel.

Natural Climate Solutions: the role of nature and people in delivering positive climate mitigation impacts

Date: 17 November 2022, 6:00pm – 8:00pm local time

Location: Nature zone, within the Blue Zone

Description: This session will focus on how high-quality NCS voluntary carbon credits can support corporate net-zero and nature positive ambitions as they deliver climate mitigation impacts but also biodiversity and social benefits.

The session will be an opportunity to hear from and discuss with businesses on how they use NCS voluntary carbon credits to counterbalance year on year their unabated emissions; from local communities on how the biodiversity and social benefits support the climate mitigation outcomes; and from project developers on how today’s demand can influence tomorrow’s supply of high-quality NCS credits.

The 60 minutes discussion will be followed by a reception and plenty of opportunities to network and exchange with business, NGOs and solutions providers on how to scale demand for high-quality Natural Climate Solutions.

Speakers:

  • Diana Mori, Shipibo-Conibo indigenous leader (NCS Lighthouse representative)
  • Marioldy Sanchez Santivañez (speaker and translator), AIDER
  • Jamie Hendriksen, Kasigau REDD+, Kenya (NCS Lighthouse representative)
  • Jean Robert Bwangoy, Mai Ndombe, DRC (NCS Lighthouse representative)
  • Anna Lehmann, Wildlife Works
  • Sophie Arndt, Ecosphere+
  • Paulina Ponce de Leon Barido, Boston Consulting Group

In-person registration: Register here on eventbrite

Virtual attendance: N/A

Stories from the Nii Kaniti Project

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Forest Hero: Diana, indigenous enterprise champion

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Bringing clean water to the community of Pueblo Neuvo

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Forest Alliance: Promoting a sustainable development model for the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon of Peru

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Control and surveillance at Nii Kaniti

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Nii Biri: ‘Wonders of the forest’ social enterprise supporting indigenous communities in Peru

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Female-run handicrafts business at Nii Kaniti

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Opportunities born from the COVID-19 pandemic

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Forest hero: Amao from Sinchi Rocha

Key resources