Misiones
JREDD+ Project
A state-wide REDD+ program in Argentina
The project
Misiones
1.5 million hectares of native forest
The Misiones J-REDD program is a provincial government–led initiative to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in the Paraná Atlantic Forest of northeastern Argentina. Bordering Brazil and Paraguay, Misiones contains some of the largest remaining tracts of this forest, recognized globally for its high biodiversity.
The province is home to one of the largest remaining populations of jaguars in Argentina, as well as many other species, and supports over 100 communities who depend on forest resources. Just over half of the province’s native forest cover remains. The main drivers of forest loss are agricultural expansion and both legal and illegal timber harvesting.
The program focuses on addressing these drivers through improved land management, sustainable production practices, and community engagement, helping to conserve biodiversity and maintain the ecological and economic benefits that the forest provides.
STANDARD
Verra JNR
PROTOCOL
JNR Scenario 2
CREDITS
VCUs
START YEAR
2017
VOLUMES EXPECTED
2025
Activities
The provincial government has committed to reducing deforestation and degradation through a variety of strategic measures including improvements in governance, monitoring and control, reducing fires, improving economic conditions for communities that rely on activities that cause deforestation and incentivizing forest owners and communities through a benefit-sharing scheme.
Key pillars
The Misiones J‑REDD program is structured around six core pillars that guide its design and implementation. These pillars set the framework for reducing deforestation and forest degradation while ensuring social, environmental, and technical integrity.
They include policy measures to address the main drivers of forest loss, mechanisms to ensure fair distribution of benefits, safeguards to protect the rights of local and Indigenous communities, robust systems for monitoring and verification, regulations to align local and provincial accounting, and a strong focus on conserving the province’s exceptional biodiversity. Together, they provide a comprehensive approach to achieving lasting conservation and sustainable development outcomes in Misiones.
Provincial REDD+ Strategy
A coordinated set of policies and actions to reduce deforestation and degradation, focusing on controlling agricultural expansion and commercial forestry, both legal and illegal.
One
Benefit Sharing Mechanism
An equitable system that provides incentives and payments for conserving native forests, ensuring positive social and economic impacts for local and Indigenous communities.
Safeguards Information System
Processes to meet Cancun Safeguards by consulting with stakeholders and respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification
Transparent, consistent procedures to accurately track and verify emission reductions before any results‑based payments are made.
One
Nesting and exclusion regulations
Regulations that integrate project‑level carbon accounting with provincial MRV systems to avoid double counting and maintain data consistency.
Biodiversity
Protection of Misiones’ exceptional biodiversity — which includes 52% of Argentina’s species and key habitats of the Paraná Atlantic Forest — to safeguard ecosystems and threatened species.
Safeguards
Jurisdictional REDD+ activities must be implemented in a manner that addresses the Cancun Safeguards (UNFCCC Decision 1/CP.16, Annex I, paragraph 2).
This includes consulting with, and respecting the rights of, all relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC), protecting natural ecosystems, enforcing forest policy in a transparent and effective manner, and aligning actions with relevant national forest programs and international conventions, such as:
1. Numerous workshops and consultations with relevant stakeholder to transparently communicate the REDD+ Strategy and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to offer feedback. A website has been created, and a grievance mechanism is now in place.
2. Development of a Safeguard Information System (SIS) that is aligns with the National Government and sets out how safeguards will be addressed during the implementation of this program.
3. Development of benefit sharing framework to incentivize stakeholders to reduce deforestation and clarify carbon rights.
