Machu Picchu becomes the first world wonder to achieve “Carbon Neutral” certification, offsetting its emissions (tCO2e) with our REDD+ Brazil nut concessions project.
Machu Picchu achieved “Carbon Neutral” certification, becoming the first Wonder of the Modern World to receive this important recognition. In pursuit of this goal, a set of sustainable activities have been implemented since 2016 to reduce the historic sanctuary’s emissions by 45% by 2030, and reach the goal of net ZERO emissions by 2050, following the guidelines of the Paris Agreement. This is an extraordinary effort between the public and private sectors led by the Municipality of Machu Picchu, the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp), Inkaterra, Aje Group, Green Initiative, among others.
Following this commitment, Machu Picchu has offset the emissions from its operations (carbon footprint) through the carbon credits generated by our REDD+ Brazil nut concessions project. A total of 2,155 tons of carbon (tCO2e) was offset with the conservation project developed by BAM in partnership with more than 560 families in Madre de Dios.
“Through our operations, we mitigate and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere due to deforestation, degradation and fragmentation of our most valuable ecosystems. In this way, we generate carbon certificates or credits that allow us to offset emissions from other human-induced activities. Such is the case that summons us and of which we are very proud and grateful to be part of.” said Jorge Cantuarias, General Manager of BAM.
The certification ceremony took place on September 2nd in Machu Picchu, and was attended by representatives of each organization involved in this important initiative: Mariano Castro, Vice Minister of Environmental Management of the Ministry of Environment (MINAM); Darwin Baca, Mayor of Machu Picchu; Pedro Gamboa, Head of Sernanp; Jorge López-Dóriga, Global Director of Communications and Sustainability of AJE Group; José Koechlin, founder of Inkaterra; Luciana Visnevski, Director of Green Initiative; Jorge Cantuarias, founder and General Manager of BAM; among others.
During the event, the Vice Minister of Environmental Management (MINAM), Mariano Castro, highlighted the importance of addressing the climate crisis and our responsibility to “achieve national and local goals to become carbon neutral economies“.
“I would like to congratulate the District Municipality of Machu Picchu and all the organizations that have participated in this initiative, such as SERNANP, Inkaterra, Aje Group and Green Initiative, for leading our beloved Machu Picchu to become the first Carbon Neutral World Wonder. This extraordinary effort is a source of pride for all Peruvians and an example of environmental responsibility worldwide,” said Jorge Cantuarias during the event.
The most important actions developed in Machu Picchu in search of environmental sustainability include the implementation of two plastic waste compactors, each with the capacity to process 7 tons of PET waste per day; the implementation of a biodiesel plant, which prevents 1,000 gallons of vegetable oil waste from reaching the Vilcanota River; and the implementation of an organic waste pyrolyzer, which processes organic waste at high temperatures to obtain biochar, avoiding the emission of Greenhouse Gases (methane and carbon dioxide). The biochar generated is used by the community as fertilizer and by Sernanp to reforest the sanctuary. Finally, a glass crusher that produces sand from crushed glass to mitigate sand extraction from the banks of the Vilcanota River and reduce erosion around Machu Picchu Pueblo.
More about our REDD+ Brazil nut concessions conservation project:
- In order to address the increasing deforestation in Madre de Dios, Bosques Amazónicos (BAM) and more than 400 families grouped in the Federation of Brazil nut Producers of Madre de Dios (FEPROCAMD), have been working in partnership since 2009 to protect 450,000 hectares of threatened forests. Thus, for more than a decade, REDD+ Brazil nut concessions has avoided the deforestation of +28,000 hectares of Amazonian forests, protected 320 million trees and avoided the emission of +18 million tons of CO2 to date, contributing directly to mitigating the effects of climate change.
- In addition, REDD+ Brazil nut concessions estimates it will avoid the emission of more than 42 million tCO2e into the atmosphere between 2021 and 2040.
- The area protected by the REDD+ Brazil nut concessions project is 450,000 ha, an area larger than Mexico City and similar in size to the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
- REDD+ Brazil nut concessions was one of the first projects in the world to be validated under the VCS standard, the most prestigious standard in the voluntary carbon market.
By: Valeria Drinot
