Trees in Colombia — Matavén Project

Where the Orinoco savannas meet the Amazon rainforest in eastern Colombia, 1.15 million hectares of transitional forest still stand. It is one of the last large blocks of intact forest at this ecological crossroads. Outside the project boundary, the same forest has already been cleared by cattle expansion, illegal logging, and slash-and-burn agriculture. This project keeps that from happening.

When you support rainforest protection in Colombia through Evertreen, your contribution goes directly to the REDD+ Project Resguardo Indígena Unificado de la Selva de Matavén, a 1,150,212-hectare Indigenous-governed reservation in Vichada Department, at the meeting point of the Orinoco savannas and the Amazon rainforest. The project keeps the forest standing instead of letting it fall to cattle expansion, illegal logging, unplanned burning, and slash-and-burn agriculture advancing across the Colombian Orinoco frontier.

Your protection of trees fund three areas of work:

Forest protection. A 312-strong Indigenous Guard, one member for each community across the 17 sectors of the reservation, patrols the territory on foot and by river, monitors for illegal logging and unplanned fires, and reports incursions to the relevant authorities.

Community development. Over the project's lifetime, 5,366 community members have been trained in conservation and project governance, 7,634 people have gained improved access to health services, and 1,905 people have gained improved access to drinking water. The project employs 76 full-time permanent staff at its headquarters, with 43 percent of those positions held by women.

Biodiversity monitoring. A 2022 camera-trap survey ran 17 stations on 30-day deployments and recorded 349 observations across 28 species in 8 orders and 19 families, alongside field studies on morichal wetlands, birds, fish, and dendrology conducted with neighbouring Indigenous communities.

The forest is home to the South American tapir and the giant anteater, both photographed on camera traps inside the project area during the 2022 survey. The South American tapir is the largest land mammal in South America and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List; the giant anteater, white-lipped peccary, and giant armadillo are also IUCN Vulnerable, all confirmed on site.

The project is registered with Verra under the VCS Standard, using the VM0007 methodology with module VMD0007 for unplanned deforestation, and is co-certified to the CCB Standards v3.1 at Gold Level for Climate. Its most recent independent verification, covering 2018 to 2019, was completed by ICONTEC in July 2022. The 2020 to 2022 period is currently in verification with KBS Certification Services.

Join Evertreen in protecting Colombia's Indigenous-led rainforest. Fund your tree today and help keep the Matavén reservation intact for the South American tapir, the giant anteater, and the six Indigenous peoples who have governed this forest for generations.

Frequently asked questions

Can businesses use this project for ESG or CSR reporting? Yes. The project is registered with Verra and co-certified to CCB v3.1 at Climate Gold Level. The ICONTEC verification report and the project's monitoring reports are publicly available on the Verra registry under Project ID 1566, which makes the project a recognised choice for ESG and CSR portfolios that require third-party-verified climate outcomes.

Can I gift rainforest protection in Colombia? Yes. Evertreen offers digital gift certificates that can be redeemed in Colombia or in any of the 35+ countries where Evertreen supports projects.

Who owns and operates the project? The project is jointly led by ACATISEMA, the Indigenous governing council representing the six ethnic groups of the reservation (Sikuani, Piaroa, Piapoco, Puinave, Curripaco, and Cubeo), and MEDIAMOS F&M S.A.S., a Colombian company that provides technical and administrative support. Evertreen is the platform through which you support the project; Evertreen does not own or operate the project.

Reviewed by Evertreen. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources: ICONTEC Verification Report VAL-VER-MI-CCB-010 (19 July 2022) covering the 2018-2019 monitoring period; 2020-2022 Monitoring Report DRAFT (30 April 2024), currently in verification by KBS Certification Services Pvt. Ltd.; Verra Registry Project ID 1566; IUCN Red List of Threatened Species; biodiversity inventory conducted by biologist David Marin with project communities (2022). The Matavén Project is operated by ACATISEMA (the Indigenous governing council of the Resguardo Indígena Unificado de la Selva de Matavén) and MEDIAMOS F&M S.A.S. Evertreen enables you to support this certified project. Evertreen does not own or operate the project directly.