Indonesia is among the countries with the highest loss of tropical rainforest, especially on the island of Borneo. Tropical peat swamp forests , some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth, are often seen as ‘unused’ land that can be made economically productive by draining and converting them for industrial timber production, such as acacia for paper pulp. However, this practice leads to large-scale deforestation, peat fires, and the release of vast amounts of greenhouse gases, as stored carbon is emitted in the form of CO2. Preserving these peatlands is therefore crucial in the fight against climate change. The Katingan Mentaya Project prevents emissions by protecting and restoring peat swamp forests. In doing so, it helps conserve unique biodiversity and strengthens local communities through investments in education, healthcare, and sustainable land use.
The Katingan Mentaya Project protects 149,800 hectares of tropical peat forest on the island of Borneo - a peatland area that stores exceptionally high amounts of carbon. By preserving these forests and preventing their conversion into industrial plantations, the project avoids the release of millions of tons of CO2 each year. In addition to protection, the project focuses on restoring degraded parts of the landscape and conserving habitats for endangered species such as the Bornean orangutan. Measures are also taken to combat illegal hunting and deforestation. Local communities benefit from sustainable income opportunities, improved access to basic services, and support for responsible land use. In this way, the project contributes to climate action and improves living conditions in the region.
ORCA supports high quality climate solutions with measurable impact, such as the Katingan Mentaya Project. The project delivers quantifiable and verifiable CO2 reductions, certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and recognized for its exceptional contribution to biodiversity with CCB Gold status. The quality and integrity of the project are confirmed by independent evaluators. It ranks among the highest rated nature based climate projects on platforms such as BeZero and Sylvera, both awarding it an ‘AA’ rating. MSCI has also given the project an ‘A’ rating, which is the highest score ever assigned to a REDD+ project within their assessment framework. By choosing this project, you contribute to credible climate action, nature conservation, and sustainable development according to the highest standards in the market.
