We are pleased to share that Rimba Raya, a 64,500-hectare peat swamp in Central Kalimantan that is also the world’s largest privately funded orangutan sanctuary, is the first project to register to the Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta). Registration under SD VISta enables projects to assess and report the sustainable development benefits they generate directly against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Developed and maintained by InfiniteEARTH, a leading developer of tropical conservation land banks and REDD+ carbon credit supplier, Rimba Raya works on avoiding the destruction of forest representing more than 130 million tonnes of carbon. Its livelihood programs in surrounding villages advance all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programs provide education, employment and hope for the future while increasing the standard of living and promoting gender equality.
“This is a critical milestone. By successfully completing the registration and successful verification of monitored results under SD VISta, Rimba Raya has shown how projects can track progress against the SDGs in a rigorous and workable manner,” said David Antonioli, CEO of Verra.
Registration under SD VISta is open to both registered VCS projects with a primary focus on producing carbon credits as well as projects with an exclusive sustainable development focus. VCS projects registered under SD VISta will issue Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) with an SD VISta label. “Many corporations who rely on carbon credits to meet ambitious climate goals, value knowing that the carbon credits they purchase and retire have additional benefits beyond reducing emissions,” says Naomi Swickard, Verra’s Chief Program Officer.
Sustainable development projects registered under SD VISta will be primarily of interest to impact investors who seek to ensure that their investments support efforts that drive real impact and transformation and are looking to be able to easily and credibly identify projects that can deliver this.