Final Validation Report for Sivirú-USARAGÁ-PIZARRO-PILIZÁ (SUPP) REDD+ Project

The project is part of the eight-project BioREDD+ program, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in the Colombian Pacific. The project is implemented by the Consejo Comunitario de Siviru, Consejo Comunitario de San Andres de Usaraga, Consejo Comunitario de Pizarro, and Consejo Comunitario de Piliza, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The project's crediting period and project lifetime is 30 years, and the audit process was conducted from October 2014 to April 2015. The audit team consisted of two Rainforest Alliance Senior Auditors and a local Colombian forestry expert, as well as a geospatial consultant who provided remote support. The field audit included stakeholder meetings with over 100 individuals representing leadership and membership from all four consejos, and a re-sampling of permanent plots used throughout the entire BioREDD+ program to measure forest carbon stocks. The audit team identified 31 VCS nonconformity reports (NCRs) and 10 CCB NCRs, which were required to be corrected prior to successful validation. The proponents submitted multiple rounds of evidence for closure of NCRs, and on April 20, 2015, sufficient corrective actions and evidence had been submitted to enable all NCRs to be closed and to determine a positive validation conclusion. The Rainforest Alliance audit team has determined to a reasonable degree of assurance positive conformance to the VCS Version 3, VCS VM0006 v2.1 methodology, VCS VT0005 tool, and the CCB Third Edition Standards. The ex-ante net emissions reduction is estimated at 9,362,355tCO2e, with an estimated issuance of 7,917,741VCUs, over the project lifetime. The validation statement is based upon the PD version 5.6 from 10 April 2015, and the AFOLU-Non-permanence risk report version 1.8 from 10 April 2015. The project's design includes measures to maintain high conservation values, manage risks to project benefits, and ensure employment opportunities and worker safety. The project's legal status is compliant with laws, statutes, property rights, and other regulatory frameworks. The proponents have demonstrated evidence of right of use, and the project is not participating in any emissions trading programs or other binding limits. The project has also demonstrated respect for rights and no involuntary relocation, and has not been involved in any illegal activities that could impact project benefits. The project's application of methodology is based on the VCS Version 3, VCS VM0006 v2.1 methodology, VCS VT0005 tool, and the CCB Third Edition Standards. The project's sectoral scope and project type are forest conservation, and the project activity is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The project's management of risks to project benefits includes measures to maintain high conservation values, manage risks to project benefits, and ensure employment opportunities and worker safety. The project's stakeholders include the project proponents, the BioREDD+ program, and other entities involved in the project. The project's commercially sensitive information is not disclosed in this report. The project's employment opportunities and worker safety are ensured through the implementation of measures to maintain high conservation values, manage risks to project benefits, and ensure employment opportunities and worker safety. The project's validation report is based on the PD version 5.6 from 10 April 2015, and the AFOLU-Non-permanence risk report version 1.8 from 10 April 2015. The report includes a summary description of the project, a validation process, and a general section that provides an overview of the project's design, legal status, and application of methodology. The report also includes a table of contents and a list of references.