Quito, 6 May 2025 (IICA) – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will participate in a trailblazing project that will serve as Ecuador’s gateway to global carbon markets. The project will be carried out as part of a global public-private partnership that seeks to combat deforestation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by granting economic incentives to countries committed to preserving their tropical forests.
The contract represents a strategic milestone for Ecuador, solidifying its leadership in nature-based climate action. It will open up new opportunities for the South American country in terms of international cooperation, sustainable rural development, the generation of green jobs and the strengthening of public policies aimed at addressing the climate crisis.
The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) of Ecuador, the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, the Emergent organization—which serves as an intermediary— and IICA.
The initiative expects to invest USD 30 million in REDD+ projects, which seek to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The resources, which will be delivered by the LEAF Coalition this year, will be used between 2025 and 2026 in several projects aimed at preserving ecosystems and strengthening the rural communities that protect them.
“The signing of this contract solidifies Ecuador’s standing as a regional leader in the implementation of innovative mechanisms to address climate change, in alignment with national policies”, remarked María Cristina Recalde, Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and host of the event during which the agreement was signed.
For his part, Renzo Galgani, IICA Representative in Ecuador, emphasized the fact that the agricultural and rural development agency of the Inter-American System is committed to providing the Andean country with technical assistance to implement the carbon credits mechanism and generate concrete benefits for populations that protect forests.
“We are witnessing the launch of an emblematic project for Ecuador. For the first time, the country is officially accessing carbon markets through its National Environmental Authority, which sets a powerful and hopeful precedent”, he remarked.
“Not only is this a concrete opportunity for climate finance, but it also symbolizes a direct commitment to protecting forests, supporting indigenous peoples and effectively preserving our ecosystems”, he added.
Galgani explained that IICA will serve as financial intermediary of the contract. As such, it is reaffirming its readiness to serve as a strategic partner of the Ecuadorian State that not only delivers technical assistance, but also cooperates in the efficient management and rigorous administration of international funds, always at the service of the country’s sustainable and resilient development.
The purpose of the partnership is to design a benefit distribution plan that defines actions, scopes and funding models for territorial projects with civil society stakeholders, public sector institutions, peoples and nationalities.
The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE) of Ecuador, the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, the Emergent organization—which serves as an intermediary— and IICA.
Verifiable results
The LEAF Coalition is a global initiative launched in 2021 that promotes high-quality financing to preserve the world’s tropical and subtropical forests. It seeks to catalyze large-scale climate action by means of a model based on verifiable results in emissions mitigation.
LEAF operates under the principles of ART-TREES (Architecture for REDD+ Transactions), an independent standard that ensures environmental integrity and transparency. Participating countries must demonstrate actual emission reductions prior to receiving payments.
The LEAF Coalition is funded through contributions from donor countries and companies committed to sustainability. Major donor countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Germany, while some of the most noteworthy corporate stakeholders include companies such as Amazon, Nestlé, Airbnb, Bayer, McKinsey, Salesforce, Unilever and Delta Air Lines, among others that are looking to meet their decarbonization goals through reliable climate finance.
To date, more than 20 developing countries have participated or shown an interest in the initiative, including Brazil, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Costa Rica and Colombia, as well as Ecuador, reflecting a growing commitment to forest conservation as a climate solution.
The initiative expects to invest USD 30 million in REDD+ projects, which seek to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
