The Gran Chaco is the second largest forest in South America. It provides essential habitat for an incredible diversity of plants and animals, many of which aren’t found anywhere else.

It is also home to 7.5 million people, and supports valuable agricultural sectors, such as the cattle and soy industries, which are important for regional economies.

Unfortunately, this unique and valuable region continues to be threatened by outdated business-as-usual models that result in large-scale deforestation and unsustainable expansion of cattle and soy production.

Just in the Argentine and Paraguayan Chaco alone, current business as usual projections estimate that over 15 million acres, or roughly 23,000 square miles, will be destroyed in the next decade. Sadly, these projections are based on outdated business models, which are often used to justify sacrificing valuable environmental lands for economic development.

But this is a false choice. There is no need to choose between a healthy environment and economic growth. We need both! More sustainable production models already exist that can help secure win-win outcomes for people, the economy and the environment. It’s possible to meet food security demands without destroying nature’s valuable assets. But this requires collaboration from all stakeholders and a willingness to look beyond the current set of outdated business-as-usual models.

Which pathway would you choose?

The Gran Chaco is the second largest forest in South America! It covers an area across Argentina and Paraguay and part of Bolivia and Brazil that is over three times the size of California.

This unique area with dry and humid forests is home to incredible species of plants and animals such as the Jaguar, Giant Armadillo, Rhea, and Puma. It is also home to over 3,500 plant, 500 bird and 200 reptile and amphibian species, many of which can’t be found anywhere else in the world. 

Unfortunately, the Gran Chaco is also one of the most threatened biomes in the world.

It has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, due to the rapid and unsustainable expansion of agriculture – specifically for cattle and soy production.

The Chaco loses over 150 acres every hour! That’s an area close to the size of 2800 football fields – every day.

Protecting Nature while Increasing Agricultural Production.

Unlocking Real Win-Win Opportunities in the Cerrado, Together, with Practical Solutions for Business, the Environment, Wildlife, and People.

The Brazilian Cerrado is the most biodiverse savannah on the planet, covering over 500 million hectares - nearly 3X the size of Texas, containing thousands of species of plants and animals that can only be found in this region of the world. The Cerrado also provides fresh water for millions of people, and its the breadbasket of Brazil.

Learn More: international.nwf.org

However, it is disappearing at an unprecedented rate: every 60 seconds, the equivalent of three football fields is lost, driven primarily by industrial agriculture for cattle and soy. But there is hope.

Brazilian and international companies are working on solutions to advance more sustainable agricultural practices. Millions of hectares in the Cerrado that have already been cleared can be used for agriculture. Win-win solutions are within reach for business, the environment, wildlife, and people.

Watch the Videos

Shining the light on the Serra de Mantiquiera and forest restoration

at the intersection of climate change and water sustainability.

Forests can deliver 30% of the climate solution needed by 2030.

The Mantiqueira Restoration Project is internationally recognized for its successes in carrying out forest restoration efficiently and effectively.

Greenpoint Innovations and Nature4Climate embarked upon a project to make an engaging film, 'Planting Nature', that brings alive the personal stories against the backdrop of such a restoration project. Using a mix of drone footage and old-fashioned storytelling, the film will bring alive what nature means to individuals and organizations.

Follow the conversation
#TheForgottenSolution
#NaturalClimateSolutions
#GCAS2018

Research shows that nature is at least a third of the solution to climate change before 2030. In fact, we cannot achieve the Paris Agreement goals without natural climate solutions. These natural pathways are cost-effective, available now, easily scalable, and are critical to reducing the risk of catastrophic climate change.

Encompassing an area equal to the size of Portugal, Serra de Mantiquiera within the Atlantic Forest is a multi-benefit-producing ecosystem located in the financial heart of Brazil, between the State of Sao Paulo, Rio De Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. While once under-appreciated and undervalued, which led to large scale deforestation and land degradation, this precious ecosystem is being restored through the collaboration of a mix of actors – rural landowners, municipalities, not-for-profits. These activities are increasingly financially incentivized by municipalities, and The Nature Conservancy has been a key partner by providing empirical scientific monitoring and research while also sharing restoration practices, knowledge, and expertise.

This film is intended to generate a greater understanding of the variety of values derived from reforestation in critical natural capital biomes by featuring stories that connect people to the planet.

Watch the Videos

Innovating the empowerment of forest-dependent communities to more fully contribute to and directly benefit from climate change mitigation efforts.

GPI worked with Forest Trends and USAID to produce a short documentary film, "Stewards of the Forest", about how successful partnerships among environmental and indigenous organizations - featuring the Yawanawa people of Acre, Brazil - has led to more secure human rights, improvements in the livelihoods of indigenous and traditional communities, increased capacity of sub-national governments to develop low-emissions rural development policies and programs, and protection against risks of deforestation.

As a component of this production, GPI’s SustainaDrone team joined DC-based nonprofit Forest Trends’ Communities Initiative for a visit to the Yawanawa people's Gregorio River Indigenous Territory in the State of Acre, where the initiative has been leading efforts through Accelerating Inclusion and Mitigating Emissions (AIME) program to build capacity of the Yawanawa people for the integrated management and conservation of their 187,000 ha forest territory.

'Stewards of the Forest' premiered on September 20th during Climate Week NYC 2017 at "Going 'All-In' to Address Commodity-Driven Deforestation", an event produced by Forest Trends, World Economic Forum Tropical Forest Alliance 2020, and Consumer Goods Forum - hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation. Additional details available here.

Learn more at the Forest Trends website.

Yawanawa Artisanal Work

Forest Trends in partnership with the Yawanawa Sociocultural Association, TUCUM, and the Artisan Alliance are joining forces to support the artisanal work of the Yawanawa women, purchase their beautiful work here.

Strategizing Climate Solutions through Fictitious Scenario Storytelling

In collaboration with Cadmus Group (cadmusgroup.com), Greenpoint Innovations produced a mock newsreel that depicts a fictitious future scenario of the community level impacts of climate change and natural disasters in Southern California.

This video was integrated into a workshop - Multi-Stakeholder Exercise Training on Integrating Mitigation and Adaptation to Enhance Community Cohesion - that Cadmus Group hosted during the 2016 California Climate Adaptation Forum on September 6 (californiaadaptationforum.org/pre-forum-workshops-and-tours/).

watch the video

Strategic development to generate income to enhance and preserve ecologically valuable land.

GPI visited the Mamoní Valley in Panama - "The Crossroads of the Americas" - in partnership with Rainforest Capital Management, EarthTrain, and the Mamoni Valley Preserve to:

1. Generate high-resolution orthomosaic 2D and 3D maps for sustainable land use planning; and,

2. Produce an informational video to support Rainforest Capital Management's fundraising efforts for the Mamoni 100.

The Mamoní 100 is a group of like-minded investors who have joined together to apply the Rainforest Capital Management mission and business model to the Mamoní Valley in Panama to preserve the uncontaminated purity and value of nature via market-based investments and to restore this crucial segment of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor to its former rich biodiversity.

Watch the video