Go Balance REDD+ Project: Climate Resilience and Community Agency in the Amazon
Insights from the Go Balance REDD+ Project: What Real Impact Looks Like in Practice
As climate solutions evolve, the question is no longer whether REDD+ can work — but what it takes for it to work credibly, equitably, and effectively. At Go Balance, our experience leading the Trocano Araretama REDD+ Project in partnership with the Municipality of Borba, Amazonas, has taught us something essential: REDD+ can be more than a carbon mechanism. When grounded in real partnership and transparency, it becomes a platform for long-term resilience — for both forests and people.
This article shares our perspective as a REDD+ project developer on what that looks like on the ground, and why we believe the Go Balance approach to REDD+ integrity represents a more responsible path forward.
REDD+ at the Community Level: A Tool for Resilience
Too often, discussions around REDD+ focus solely on carbon numbers — tonnes reduced, carbon credits issued, markets moved. These are all important to generate the overall benefits, but in a landscape like the Brazilian Amazon, the reality is more complex — and more human.
Go Balance’s REDD+ project work in Borba demonstrates that resilience in this context means giving people tools to protect their environment without undermining their way of life. It means helping communities become stronger through conservation, not in spite of it. And that requires real, ongoing engagement.
What We’ve Seen in Borba: Practical Action, Real Outcomes
In the Go Balance Trocano Araretama Project, this philosophy translates into a portfolio of practical, community-led initiatives — developed in partnership with residents, educators, and local government.
Recent examples of this include:
- Soil conservation training and environmental awareness lectures in schools — timed around Forest Day and Earth Day — to embed a culture of stewardship from a young age
- Fire brigade training and equipment provided to local teams to address the growing threat of forest fires due to rising temperatures and seasonal changes
- Composting workshops, which simultaneously address waste, food security, and soil health — and are led by local associations
- Stingless bee (meliponiculture) training, providing sustainable, forest-compatible income streams
- Women’s wellbeing programmes, ensuring that development includes dignity, access, and care
These are not “add-ons” to a carbon project — they are central to why forest protection can be sustained over time.
Reflections from the Field: Local Knowledge, Real Voices
During a recent visit to the Sempre Viva Santana Community, the Trocano Project team delivered an environmental education session at the José Pereira Pinheiro School — attended by 49 students and several community members.
The Trocano Araretama Project has brought practical courses, valuable lectures, and environmental awareness campaigns to our community,” shared one of our team members. “We see the results — in participation, in knowledge shared, and in the voices of community leaders.
Following the session, teachers and community members — including Mr. Messias and Mr. Charlison Alves — described how meliponiculture and fertilisation training provided through the Go Balance REDD+ project had helped them manage their land more effectively and improve their livelihoods.
These stories reflect a broader truth: REDD+ can only work when communities are not just consulted — but empowered.
Another example is from the Terra São Lazaro community in Borba, where the School Garden had been created, thanks to the Trocano Project.
We recently harvested vegetables from the school garden in our community,” said Mr Antônio, president of the community from Borba. ” The food was shared among residents during our monthly meeting, and everyone was very happy. This success is thanks to the Trocano Araretama Project, whose support has made a real difference. We are grateful for this partnership.
REDD+ Project with Integrity: What Sets Go Balance Apart
The Go Balance REDD+ project is based on a formal agreement with the Municipality of Borba, ensuring local governance at the municipal level. The Trocano Araretama Project is independently verified under internationally recognised standards and applies a conservative, risk-based carbon methodology that prioritises environmental credibility.
What sets this project apart is its commitment to accountability, transparency, and co-designed implementation:
- All activities are developed in partnership with local leaders and organisations
- Delivery is documented and monitored with regular community input
- Project outcomes are verified through independent third-party assessments
- The benefits are tangible — seen in schools, gardens, health initiatives, and fire prevention efforts
This is the Go Balance commitment to REDD+ integrity in practice.
Related Reading:
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Go Balance Celebrates the Trocano Araretama REDD Project Initiatives
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Community Agency in Action: What it Really Means for the Go Balance Trocano Project
To learn more about the Trocano Araretama REDD+ Project, or to explore how Go Balance works to deliver measurable climate and community outcomes in Amazonas, visit our Go Balance Blog or contact us directly.