Fundación Huellas Verdes

Protecting communities against landslides and offsetting carbon emissions through revegetation
2014 SEED Low Carbon Award; IKI BMU
Green Technologies
Bogota
Colombia

Fundación Huellas Verdes works together with its clients to determine their needs for carbon offsets. Areas with a high risk of landslides are then identified and planted with vetiver, locally known as Tiva, in cooperation with with municipalities, government agencies, and local communities, thereby preventing erosion and offsetting carbon emissions. 

The clients of Fundación Huellas Verdes receive a certificate for their annual carbon emission offsets over the next 50 years, as well as a “carbon neutral” stamp.

The revegetation projects rely on organic fertilisers and contribute to drought management by improving agricultural conditions. Planting vetiver mitigates climate change and the clients offsetting their carbon emissions benefit from a certificate that distinguishes their products.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Fundación Huellas Verdes contributes to the prevention of landslides that impact infrastructure, homes, and can result in loss of life. Local communities further benefit from knowledge and capacity building on climate-change adaptation as well as sources of income.
  • Reducing the risk of landslides that impact infrastructure, homes, and can lead to loss of life.
  • Strengthening the capacity of local civil society organisations and government institutions to adapt to climate change.

 

  • Absorbing carbon emissions through planting vetiver grass on degraded slopes.
  • Using organic fertiliser to prevent negative environmental impacts.
  • Stabilising at-risk slopes, preventing landslides and contamination of water sources, as well as contributing to drought management. 
  • Contracting labour from the affected community, thereby generating a source of income.
  • Preventing economic losses caused by landslides and improving the water flow for agriculture.
  • Offering a unique selling point to corporate clients offsetting their carbon emissions.

Partners

Fundación Huellas Verdes helps to protect communities at risk of landslides by planting tiva, at the same time as providing a carbon offset mechanism for enterprises and institutions. The grass, also known as vetiver, has great potential to store carbon in its roots and prevents erosion when planted on slopes at risk of landslides. Working closely with the affected communities the enterprise ensures maximum benefits for them.

Fundación Huellas Verdes is a non-profit environmental consultancy and the main partner implementing the revegetation projects.

AQUAMINAS supports Fundación Huellas Verdes with studies on soil, geology and geotechnology related to landslides in at-risk zones.

MK Inversiones provides support to the environmental consulting services offered by Fundación Huellas Verdes, and contributes economic resources for the implementation of its projects.