Piauí and Silvania Sign Groundbreaking Agreement on Jurisdictional REDD+ to Preserve Forests

GENEVA, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark step to combat deforestation and climate change, the State of Piauí has partnered with Silvania, a global natural capital investment platform backed by a USD $500 million commitment, to launch an ambitious jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) program to combat deforestation and climate change while fostering sustainable development in the state. Through a new agreement signed today with Investe Piauí, the mixed economy company representing the State, Silvania has agreed to provide technical and financial support for the generation and commercialization of JREDD (forest protection) carbon credits.

Under the agreement, Silvania will provide upfront financing to help the state achieve certification under the ART TREES standard. This certification ensures the credibility and transparency of the JREDD carbon credits generated. Silvania will serve as offtaker of future ART-issued credits generated under the program. The environmental services company Geonoma, a leader in sustainable solutions and biodiversity conservation with over 15 years of experience, will lead program development. Known for its expertise in Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and its work on large-scale ecological restoration initiatives, Geonoma will collaborate closely with the State and technical partners to ensure the program's success.

Silvania has partnered with Systemica, a Brazilian company specialized in solutions for generating and managing carbon credits and environmental assets. Systemica will provide leading-edge technical services to the program.

Piauí is stepping forward following the example of the state of Tocantins, which launched a similar jurisdictional REDD+ program in partnership with Silvania. After engaging with Tocantins officials and evaluating their approach, Piauí sought to launch a public process to identify a commercial partner. Silvania, in partnership with Systemica, was selected through that process. This agreement represents the latest addition to a growing portfolio of jurisdictional programs supported by Silvania.

Preliminary modeling suggests that if Piauí achieves a 10% year-over-year reduction in deforestation and forest degradation, it could generate more than 20 million credits by 2030. This figure is a preliminary, performance-based estimate, subject to ART validation and dependent on actual achievement. To support the program's implementation, Silvania anticipates investing between BRL 10–20 million, based on development and implementation costs currently under discussion with the State, and backed by Silvania's extensive JREDD experience observed in Tocantins, Missiones and other geographies.

The JREDD program will focus on benefiting traditional communities and scaling up sustainable agriculture practices, ensuring that local populations and producers are directly involved in, and benefit from, conservation efforts.

This new agreement also contributes to the Race to Belém, Silvania's campaign to unlock large-scale private sector investment in forest protection ahead of COP30, expanding the pipeline of high-quality supply of high-integrity credits that will be available as part of the campaign. This agreement also reflects Silvania's growing partnerships with Brazilian states to advance both forest protection and restoration; in addition to its Race to Belém efforts, Silvania recently signed a landmark forest restoration agreement with the State of Maranhão through the Floresta Viva program.

Governor Rafael Fonteles of Piauí emphasized the importance of this partnership:

"This agreement represents a transformative step for Piauí in our fight against deforestation and climate change. Through Investe Piauí and with Silvania's support, we will not only protect our forests but also create sustainable opportunities for our communities. Together, we are building a greener and more prosperous future for Piauí."

President of Investe Piauí, Victor Hugo de Almeida, highlighted the significance of the agreement for the State:

"This partnership with Silvania is a milestone for Investe Piauí and the State as a whole. It enables us to access cutting-edge tools and resources to tackle deforestation while promoting sustainable development. By leveraging the ART TREES standard and focusing on local communities, we are ensuring that our environmental efforts also bring tangible benefits to the people of Piauí."

Celso Fiori, Director of Silvania's team in Brazil, noted the importance of local leadership:

"As a Brazilian leading Silvania's efforts on the ground, I'm proud to see this level of ambition from the State of Piauí. This program builds on our successful collaboration in Tocantins and shows how homegrown solutions, backed by global finance and expertise, can deliver real climate impact."

Silvania CEO, Eelco Hoekstra, also added:

"Silvania is proud to partner with Investe Piauí in this pioneering initiative. By combining our expertise with the State's dedication to environmental stewardship, we aim to keep setting the best benchmark for jurisdictional REDD+ programs. This collaboration demonstrates how public-private partnerships can drive impactful climate action while empowering local communities and promoting sustainable agriculture."

Located at the crossroads of Brazil's latest major global agricultural frontier, known as MATOPIBA (an acronym for Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia), Piauí plays a critical role in promoting sustainable agriculture while protecting its forests and the Amazon rainforest, which lies just beyond its borders. As a state situated between large agricultural regions and the Amazon, Piauí is uniquely positioned to balance economic growth with environmental conservation, making it a key player in global efforts to address climate change.

The agreement signed today during a ceremony in Geneva, marks a pivotal moment in Piauí's journey toward sustainable development and climate leadership. By fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, this initiative sets a powerful example for other regions. As the world prepares for COP30, Piauí and Silvania are demonstrating that bold, innovative action can deliver meaningful change for forests, communities, and the planet.

About Investe Piauí
Investe Piauí is a mixed economy company representing the State of Piauí, Brazil. The company is dedicated to fostering sustainable development, attracting investments, and implementing innovative solutions to address environmental and economic challenges.

About Silvania
Silvania is a leading company in environmental solutions, specializing in carbon credit generation, sustainable finance, and climate impact initiatives. The company is dedicated to fostering partnerships that drive measurable progress in global sustainability efforts.

About Geonoma
Geonoma is a leading environmental services company based in Brazil, specializing in sustainable solutions, biodiversity conservation, and nature-based projects. With over 15 years of experience and more than 400 projects executed since 2020, among them over 35 ecological restoration initiatives. Operating across all Brazilian biomes, the company offers a comprehensive range of services, including carbon credit generation, greenhouse gas inventories, decarbonization strategies, ecological restoration, environmental licensing, and tailored environmental programs. Geonoma's integrated Sustainability and Carbon Departments empower businesses, governments, and communities to tackle the climate crisis with science-based strategies that deliver measurable economic, social, and environmental benefits. Known for its expertise in Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV), Geonoma plays a key role in high-integrity carbon credit generation, ensuring strong market acceptance while advancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

SOURCE Silvania