Manoa REDD+

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Credit issuances by vintage

Notable buyers

Natura Cosmeticos · Telefonica · Dow · Lojas Renner · Workday

In the news

• Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows

  The Guardian · 1/18/2023

  Our take: This widely publicized article claims that most rainforest carbon offsets certified by Verra delivered minimal climate benefits, based on a study that found that several projects (including Manoa) used inflated baselines resulting in over-crediting. However, this conclusion stems from methodologically flawed baseline assessments, as detailed in Verra's comprehensive rebuttal. Independent research from multiple respected carbon credit experts including Pachama and Sylvera directly contradict these findings. Their rigorous analyses revealed that Manoa's baseline calculations were actually highly conservative and that the project delivers genuine emissions reductions. This demonstrates the importance of looking beyond headlines and conducting thorough due diligence and multi-source verification to ensure the most accurate assessment of project integrity.

• Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings 2024

  Environmental Finance · 12/1/2024

  Our take: Each year, Environmental Finance issues awards to organizations making the greatest impact in the voluntary carbon market. In 2024, Manoa came in second place for the world’s greatest individual offsetting project. This award reflects how impactful this project is.

• Brazil plans new Amazon routes linking the Pacific & China’s New Silk Road

  Mongabay · 3/31/2025

  Our take: China's Belt and Road Initiative is accelerating new infrastructure plans cutting through the Amazon, including routes connecting Brazil to Pacific ports. These developments threaten the rainforest as they historically lead to deforestation, with research showing 95% of Amazon clearing occurs within 5.5 km of roads. This infrastructure expansion makes forest conservation projects in Brazil, such as Manoa, more valuable than ever, serving as critical counterbalances to development pressures that have already caused a 190% increase in environmental violations in areas like the planned Ferrogrão railway region.

• Is the plan to have companies pay to protect forests too flawed to ever work?

  Fast Company · 6/21/2023

  Our take: REDD projects provide a valuable service to the world by protecting critical forests and helping reduce global carbon emissions. However, many of these projects have been found to be over-credited, meaning they overestimate their climate impact and issue more credits than they should have. This has caused much of the voluntary carbon market to turn away from REDD projects. This article shows how other REDD projects can learn from Manoa, a model forest conservation project that has been reviewed favorably by many ratings agencies.