TERRASOS Event SERIES
ABOUT US
Who is Terrasos?
Terrasos is a leading Colombian company dedicated to designing innovative solutions that enable the private sector to actively participate in the conservation and restoration of Colombia›s rich and diverse ecosystems. With over 5,000 hectares of Habitat Banks and 7 years of experience, we specialize in creating biocredits for both regulated and voluntary markets. Our mission is to bridge the gap between economic development and environmental stewardship, fostering sustainable investments that yield tangible benefits for nature and communities alike.
Join us at COP16
Experience firsthand the impact of our conservation efforts and learn how biocredits are shaping the future of environmental sustainability. Engage with experts, witness successful projects, and explore the incredible biodiversity of Colombia.
DEMYSTIFYING BIOCREDITS
What is the Event Series: Demystifying Biocredits?
As part of our commitment to promoting biodiversity conservation, Terrasos is organizing a series of exclusive visits to our Habitat Banks leading up to COP16. The event series, «Demystifying Biocredits,» aims to provide stakeholders— buyers, developers, policymakers, governments, and journalists—with an in-depth understanding of biocredits. These visits will showcase how biocredits—verifiable, quantifiable, and tradable units of restored or preserved biodiversity—can finance positive outcomes for nature. fostering sustainable investments that yield tangible benefits for nature and communities alike.
EVENT SERIES
Demystifying biocredits
Showcasing four of Terrasos’ Habitat Banks, areas for the long-term protection of biodiversity, this event series delves into the practical application of biocredits as environmental investment solution while taking you to iconic ecosystems in Colombia
*October 19th to 20th, 2024
The Success of the First Habitat Bank
Habitat Bank “Meta”
San Martín, Colombia
Tropical Savaanas
Available space: 8
Departing from: Villavicencio
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*October 31th to November 1st, 2024
Biocredits for Landscape Transformation
Habitat Bank “El Globo”
Tamesis, Colombia
Cloud Forest
Available places: 15
Departing from: Medellin
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*October 31st, 2024
Long-Term Biodiversity Management
Habitat Bank “Cesar”
La Lope, Colombia
Tropical Dry Forest
Available places: 20
Departing from: Valledupar
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*October 21st, 2024
Corporate Biodiversity Conservation
Habitat Bank “Aguadulce” Nilo, Cundinamarca
Tropical Dry Forest
Available places: 22
Departing from: Bogotá
payment link
*You must arrive one day before to the city of departure, and leave one day after the visit
Habitat Bank “Meta”
San Martín de los Llanos, Colombia
1,112 ha
Habitat Bank Details
• First Habitat Bank in Colombia, registered by the Ministry of Environment in 2016.
• Project developed in partnership with “Mataredonda” a family of cattle ranchers affected committing their land to 30 years of conservation.
Tropical Savaanas
AREA UNDER MANAGEMENT
Classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN the distribution of tropical savaanas in Colombia is under rapid decline with losses of up to %70 in the past 50 years.
Biodiversity
Situated in the eastern plains of Colombia “El Meta” is located in proximity to Orinoquia, a rich biogeografical area. Highly threatened natural forests and savanna ecosystems are protected altogether with it exuberant biodiversity.
Danta Tapirus terrestris Armadillo Priodontes maximus
Titi Monkey Callicebus cupreus
The success of the first habitat bank
Traditional conservation efforts have proven not to be cost-effective nor long lasting thus insufficient to tackle the increasing threats to biodiversity and habitat preservation.
Terrasos is a pioneer of the Habitat Bank mechanism in Colombia, which consists on areas that are placed under restoration and/or conservation efforts thus offer an alternative to isolated and usually costly and ineffective initiatives. Biodiversity offsets or credits are aggregated in one place but have multiple offtakers and as larger areas are covered habitat connectivity and greater resilience is ensured.
“Each hectare generates one biodiversity credit, and each credit is then used by companies who need to comply with environmental regulations”
Mariana Sarmiento - CEO
Main Themes
• First hand understanding of the regulatory schemes for biodiversity offsets implemented in Colombia
• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of biodiversity offsetting across the world to shape policy discussions.
• Consider local, regional and international enablers for the development of biodiversity policies.
Agenda
October 18th, 2024
• Self-organized Arrival to SuggestionEstelar Hotel
October 19th, 2024
• 6am Departure from Estelar Hotel Villavicencio
• 9am Arrival to El Meta Habitat Bank
• 10am Breakfast
• 11am Hike & Intro to biodiversity offsetting in Colombia
• 1pm Lunch
• 3pm Restoration and greenhouse
• 7pm Dinner
• 8pm Storytelling
October 20th, 2024
• 5am Birdwatching (optional)
• 8am Breakfast
• 10am Policymaking for biodiversity and international regulation
• 1pm Lunch
• 3pm Departure
• 6pm Arrival to Villavicencio (VVC)
October 21th, 2024
• Self-organized - flight to Cali (from Villavicencio)
775
Habitat Bank “El Globo”
Tamesis, Colombia
Antioquia Department
AREA UNDER MANAGEMENT Habitat Bank Details
• Habitat Bank issuing the first voluntary biodiversity credits in Colombia which are verified by KPMG and EAFIT University.
• Registered by the Ministry of Environment in 2021 .
• Project developed in partnership with “El Globo Reserve” for the protection and restoration of degraded ecosystems in Antioquia.
Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to high representation this ecosystem suffers high levels of fragmentation
Biodiversity
Situated in the municipality of Tamesis and within the protected area Cuchilla Jardín-Támesis.
This Habitat Bank is strategically located and acts as a catalyzer for a new development model in one of the regions with higher deforestation rates.
Cloud Forest
Biocredits for landscape transformation
The big nature turnaround depicts the efforts to repurpose nature-negative financial flows that account for investments of US$ 7 trillion each year (UNEP, 2023).
Companies and financial institutions are in need of solutions that allow them to evaluate nature related risk and impacts and repurpose financial resources to combat nature-loss. Tackling climate, biodiversity and degradation challenges is urgent and biodiversity credits provide one such channel to offset biodiversity impacts through verified efforts that restore critical habitats, protect endangered species, and generate measurable environmental benefits.
Furthermore, projects that promote the sustainable harvest of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) can provide additional income streams for local communities, ensuring long-term protection and benefits.
Terrasos’ biodiversity voluntary credits ensure finance for habitat restoration that businesses can use to meet their sustainability goals
• On the ground case study that showcase the opportunities to integrate biodiversity into financial decisionmaking.
• Data driven approach with the Protocol for issuing voluntary biodiversity credits.
• Experience corporate efforts through which biodiversity management is incorporated policies and procedures.
• Explore non-timber forest products as complementary mechanisms to generate income for local communities and simultaneously address restoration and biodiversity conservation.
Main Themes
Habitat Bank “El Globo”
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
Ecoflora is a pioneer in the commercial uses of Jagua (Genipa americana), a native tree found in Colombia and many other South American countries and patented the process to extract a stable, natural blue colourant from this species.
Agenda
October 30th, 2024
• Self-organized arrival to Medellin - Hotel Ibis Ciudad del Río (suggested)
October 31th, 2024
• 6am Departure from Hotel Ibis Ciudad del Rio
• 7am Non-timber forest products -NTFPs- at Ecoflora
• 1pm Lunch in Tamesis
• 3pm Arrive at El Globo Habitat Bank
• 4pm Waterfalls & Intro to biodiversity credits
• 7pm Dinner
• 8pm Bonfire & Biodiversity monitoring
Nov 1st, 2024
• 5am Birdwatching (optional)
• 7am Breakfast
• 8:30am Issuing biodiversity credits, proceedures and companies
• 12m Lunch
• 2pm Departure
• 6pm Arrival to Medellin - Ibis Hotel Ciudad del Rio
Nov 2nd
• Self-organized - back to other destinations or traveling around Medellín
US$ 397
Habitat Bank “Cesar”
La Lope, Colombia
470 ha
Habitat Bank Details
• Registered by the Ministry of Environment in 2021
• Project developed in one of the last remanent areas of tropical dry forest in Colombia.
Tropical Savaanas
AREA UNDER MANAGEMENT
With less than 5 % of representation in Colombia, this ecosystem is classified by the IUCN as Critically Endangered and continue to be highly threatened by land-use change and climate change and at risk of collapse.
Biodiversity
Area of interest due to the high presence of feline species and bird diversity.
Spanish cedar Cedrela odorata Blue-billed curassow Crax alberti
Colombian red howler Alouatta seniculus
Photo by Jim Conrad
Photo by Janos Olah
Long-term biodiversity management
Companies and investors can tap into a US$ 10 trillion opportunity by implementing nature-positive initiatives (WEF, 2022). In particular there is significant potential for social and environmental contributions alongside financial returns for investors through initiatives such as Habitat Banks.
However, in a world that faces a twin biodiversity and climate crisis these efforts are to be addressed through long-term biodiversity management and careful risk assessment and mitigation.
Terrasos is at the fore-front of longterm and adaptive management of ecosystems that allows the identification of “emerging risks” in increasingly complex landscapes
Main Themes
This day visit delves into risks and encourages discussion revolving on topics such as:
• Challenges of managing biodiversity.
• Long-term monitoring activities and its contribution to adaptive management
• Innovative policies and mitigation strategies to ensure the success of conservation projects.
• Collaborative development of risk protocols in conservation projects.
Agenda
October 30th, 2024
• Self-organized Arrival to SuggestionCasa Rosalia Hotel
October 31th, 2024
• 7am Breakfast at Casa Rosalia Hotel
• 8:30am Departure
• 10am Arrival to La Lope Habitat Bank
• 11am Trekking to conservation areas
• 1pm Packed lunch in the forest
• 2pm Biodiversity challenges and longterm monitoring
• 4pm River trail & policies, risks and innovation
• 6pm Sunset
• 8pm Arrival to Casa Rosalia Hotel Nov 1st, 2024
• Self-organized - back to other destinations or traveling around Valledupar
US$ 667
Habitat Bank “Aguadulce”
Nilo, Colombia
AREA UNDER MANAGEMENT
Habitat Bank Details
• Registered by the Ministry of Environment in 2022 .
• Habitat Bank is the second of Terrasos’ projects issuing voluntary biodiversity credits in Colombia which are verified by KPMG and EAFIT University.
• Area with a mosaic of ecosystems including tropical dry forest, grasslands and premontane humid forest.
Tropical Savaanas
Classified by the IUCN as Critically Endangered and at risk of collapse as 95 % of cover has been lost.
Biodiversity
ituated in the municipality of Nilo and in proximity to the Sumapaz river which then flows into the Magdalena river.
Key area for the protection of threatened and vulnerable species.
wagleri
Corporate biodiversity conservation
There is a 700 billion financing gap for biodiversity and the private sector has a pivotal role to play in accounting for the role that nature plays into their own operations.
Cost-effective use of land, contribution towards local livelihoods and investments into restoration and conservation projects are needed to ensure the provisioning of ecosystem and the profitability of many businesses.
Rather than waiting for nature-related risks to negatively impact business operations voluntary contributions towards nature and decreased costs from the reduced need of inputs to counter biodiversity degradation.
Main Themes
• Voluntary pledges to nature-positive.
• Success stories from Colombian companies that have partnered with Terrasos.
• Opportunities for integrating biodiversity conservation into corporate strategies.
Habitat Bank “Aguadulce”
Agenda
October 20th, 2024
• Self-organized Arrival to Bogotá
October 21th, 2024
• 5am Departure from Hotel Rosales Plaza Bogotá
• 7am Breakfast in Silvania
• 9am Arrival to Aguadulce Habitat Bank
• 10am Hike & Partnering for Biodiversity
• 1pm Lunch
• 2pm Biodiversity and corporate strategies
• 3pm Greenhouse and restoration
• 5pm Sunset
• 7pm Departure to Bogotá
• 11pm Arrival to Hotel Rosales Plaza
October 22nd, 2024
• Self-organized - flight to Cali (from Bogotá)
US$ 612
What to bring?
• Backpack
• Water bottle (thermost least 1L / 34 oz)
• Long sleeves shirt (dry fit)
• warm layer or jacket
• Fast dry pants
• Hiking boots or comfortable sneakers
• Bug repellant
• Sunscreen
• Hat or cap
• Swimsuit
How to Book
1
Go to the payment link and choose the the visit that best suits you.
Meta HB
El Globo HB
La Lope HB
2
Fill out this confirmation form (personal info and proof of payment)
3 go to form
Deadline for payment and confirmation September 18th If you have any questions please