Paraguay has experienced one of the highest deforestation and forest degradation rates in South America over the last decades, mainly due to agricultural expansion. The forest cover of the eastern region was reduced from 55% in the 1940s to less than 15% in the 2000s. Reducing deforestation and forest degradation will not only maintain one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots on earth, but also reduce emissions and uphold the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. The project aimed at analyzing the successful, sustainable forest management practices that can be scaled up within the framework of a REDD+ project. These practices included natural forest restoration, management and reforestation activities as well as integrated forest, livestock and agricultural production. A pre-feasibility was evaluating different REDD+ models.

• Evaluation of REDD+ models for a forest company managing 6,000 ha FSC certified natural forests.
• Evaluation of REDD+ models in a forest company reforesting 9,000 ha.
• Evaluation of REDD+ models in smallholder communities within the buffer zone of a natural park.
• Evaluation of REDD+ models in an agricultural cooperative with patches of natural forests.
• Elaboration of implementable production models and business plans.
• Identification of appropriate investors.