Myanmar JREDD+ Program - Terra Global Capital

Myanmar JREDD+ Program

Program Details

Location	Bago Region, Myanmar
Status	Active
Stage	Post Investment
Program Area (ha)	96,888
Reductions/Removals (Avg Annual)	64,283 tCO2e
Program Type	JREDD+
Blue Carbon/Peatland	–
Market Standard	JNR, VCS, CCB
Methodology	VM0006
Program Start	2016
1st Verification	2025

About the Program

The Myanmar JREDD+ Program in the Bago Region is the first jurisdictional-scale REDD+ initiative in Myanmar, developed to reduce deforestation, improve livelihoods, and conserve globally significant biodiversity. Spanning 1,702,047 hectares, the Program covers Reserve Forests, Community Forests, Protected Public Areas, and the Protected Area System, representing 92% of all forests in the Bago Region. The Program was initiated by the Myanmar Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) in collaboration with the Korea Forest Service (KFS), the Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KoFPI), and Terra Global Capital. It establishes Myanmar’s first Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) Baseline, validated under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and aligned with the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity (CCB) Standards.
Program Highlights:

Total Area: 1,702,047 hectares of high-conservation-value forest
Annual Emission Reductions: 238,397 tCO₂e per year
Jurisdictional Framework: Validated under the VCS JNR Standard for scalability to national REDD+

First Program Activity Instance: The North Zamari Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 75,000 hectares of tropical upland rainforest

Biodiversity Significance: Habitat for endangered species including the Asian elephant, clouded leopard, Hoolock gibbon, and sun bear
Local Governance: Implemented through the Forest Research Institute (FRI), ensuring national ownership and technical integrity

The Program’s long-term vision is to build a scalable, performance-based framework for REDD+ across Myanmar that unites forest protection, community benefits, and sustainable development.

Community Benefits

The Program improves the well-being of forest-dependent communities by creating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening local governance, and building capacity for REDD+ implementation.

Key Community Outcomes:

Livelihood Improvement: Supports community forestry, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism initiatives to reduce reliance on forest extraction
Employment Creation: Provides long-term jobs in forest protection, biodiversity monitoring, and restoration activities
Capacity Building: Trains government officials, local communities, and researchers in REDD+, carbon accounting, and conservation techniques
Inclusive Participation: Engages local residents through Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes and participatory forest planning
Education and Awareness: Expands environmental education programs across the Bago and Thayarwady Districts

By aligning livelihood incentives with conservation goals, the Program ensures communities are active partners and beneficiaries in sustainable forest management.

Biodiversity Benefits

The Bago Region is one of Myanmar’s most ecologically diverse landscapes, containing tropical upland and evergreen forests that provide refuge for globally threatened species and protect critical ecosystem services.

Key Biodiversity Outcomes:

Habitat Protection: Conserves more than 1.7 million hectares of intact forest ecosystems supporting endangered wildlife.
Species Conservation: Safeguards the last remaining habitat for the Asian elephant population in the North Zamari area
Forest Connectivity: Maintains ecological corridors linking protected areas and elephant migration routes across southern Myanmar
Ecosystem Restoration: Implements enrichment planting, natural regeneration, and watershed management to stabilize soils and improve water quality
Wildlife Protection: Expands patrols and anti-poaching initiatives in high-risk areas, supported by community rangers and local enforcement

Protecting this region ensures the survival of Myanmar’s key forest species and enhances ecosystem resilience under a changing climate.

Program Partners

The Myanmar JREDD+ Program is led by the Forest Department under MONREC, with support from:

Korea Forest Service (KFS): Strategic partner providing funding and technical guidance
Korea Forestry Promotion Institute (KoFPI): Delivers training, technology transfer, and institutional support
Forest Research Institute (FRI): Local implementing agency overseeing field operations and data collection
Terra Global: Provides technical expertise in greenhouse gas quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification for carbon asset development under market standards. Terra structures and provides climate finance, supports ongoing program management, and commercializes verified emission reductions/removals

Myanmar JREDD+ Program

Program Documents

Project Listing Only – North Zamari REDD+ PD

Myanmar – North Zamari-Bago Region REDD+ PD Summary Translation

Myanmar JREDD+ Program

Program Activities

Strengthening Land Tenure and Forest Governance

Clarifies and formalizes land rights to promote secure and transparent management of forest resources.

Boundary demarcation of the 71,044-hectare North Zamari Reserve Forest, with annual maintenance and monitoring.
Establishes clear legal tenure for the Forest Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC).
Promotes community forestry registration and co-management under the Community Forest Instruction policy.
Builds governance capacity among local authorities and Forest Department staff for long-term enforcement.

Outcome: Stronger tenure security reduces encroachment, improves cooperation between communities and the government, and enables sustainable forest protection.

Forest Protection and Law Enforcement

Prevents illegal logging, charcoal extraction, and agricultural encroachment through enhanced patrols and community engagement.

Establishes joint enforcement patrols and equips staff with GPS, radios, and vehicles.
Implements SMART-based monitoring to record and respond to illegal activities.
Trains local communities and rangers on wildlife protection and legal frameworks.

Outcome: Reduced illegal activity, improved boundary control, and better collaboration between local stakeholders and enforcement agencies.

Community Forestry and Sustainable Livelihoods

Supports forest-dependent households in adopting sustainable practices that provide income while reducing pressure on natural forests.

Facilitates agroforestry systems integrating fruit, teak, and nitrogen-fixing trees.
Promotes non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as honey, bamboo, and medicinal plants.
Develops alternative income opportunities for smallholders, women, and minority groups.
Conducts training in sustainable agriculture, business skills, and resource management.

Outcome: Diversified income and reduced dependence on forest exploitation.

Fuelwood Management and Energy Efficiency

Reduces fuelwood demand while increasing access to renewable energy alternatives.

Distributes fuel-efficient cookstoves to over 70% of households in the project zone, replacing traditional three-stone hearths.
Establishes community woodlots and fuelwood plantations for sustainable biomass production.
Conducts training on efficient stove construction and maintenance, especially targeting women’s groups.

Outcome: Lower deforestation pressure from unsustainable fuelwood and charcoal collection, reduced household energy costs, and improved health from cleaner cooking methods.

Forest Restoration and Reforestation

Restores degraded forests and enhances ecosystem services across the project zone.

Promotes natural regeneration and enrichment planting in degraded areas.
Prioritizes riparian zones, elephant corridors, and upland slopes for restoration.
Rebuilds soil health and stabilizes slopes to reduce erosion and runoff.

Outcome: Increased carbon sequestration, improved soil fertility, and restored ecological function.

Awareness, Education, and Capacity Building

Increases community and institutional capacity for REDD+ implementation and sustainable forest management.

Conducts awareness campaigns on forest protection, biodiversity, and climate change.
Trains community members, local officials, and youth groups in forest management and fire prevention.
Strengthens technical capacity within the Forest Research Institute (FRI) and MONREC for ongoing REDD+ monitoring and reporting.

Outcome: Knowledge transfer and institutional readiness for scaling REDD+ at the national level.