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What is Vida Manglar?

We are the first REDD+ program in Colombia developed in mangrove ecosystems and approved by Verra. We emerged as a collective initiative of Conservation International, Fundación Omacha, the Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR), and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Sinú and San Jorge River Valleys (CVS), with the participation of local communities. Through this joint effort, we developed an alternative that revolutionized the carbon credit market by measuring and monetizing carbon stored not only in vegetation but also in mangrove soils, generating resources to finance their conservation.
Our goal is clear: to prevent the emission of 939,296 tons of CO₂ over the program’s 30-year lifespan by protecting 7,561 hectares of mangrove forest within the Regional Integrated Management District (DRMI) of Cispatá Bay, La Balsa, Tinajones, and surrounding areas of the Sinú River delta.
To date, we have achieved significant progress. During the first verification period conducted by AENOR, we reached a net emission reduction of 73,434 tons of CO₂. We are currently undergoing verification for the 2019–2023 period by ASTER GLOBAL (SSC International). During this time, we achieved a reduction of 103,052 tons of CO₂. These figures demonstrate the collective effort to meet our goals. For monitoring our targets and objectives, we track 40 governance, climate, and biodiversity indicators. Our actions contribute to 23 indicators across 7 Sustainable Development Goals:

Where are we?

Program area: 7,561 ha of mangrove forest

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Our identity

True to our collective work essence, the construction of our identity was also a participatory process. Together with institutional partners—CVS, Fundación Omacha, Conservation International, and Invemar—and communities, we built the elements that represent us.

Associations contributed key ideas such as the name “Vida Manglar” and the inclusion of children in the logo as a symbol of the future.

The result is a logo that embodies the core concepts of Vida Manglar: mangrove, life, conservation, ecosystem, species, and community.

A friendly, handwritten-style font evokes warmth, approachability, and community connection. An abstract mangrove tree merges with the letter “M” , symbolizing both the tree’s roots and the name Manglar.
The silhouettes represent life connected to the mangrove forest, capturing the past, present, and future.
A canoe reflects traditional transportation, anchoring the design in the region’s culture and heritage.
Children’s silhouettes symbolize the future, generational succession, and gender inclusion:
  • A boy with a backpack represents openness to knowledge, research, and exploration.
  • A girl holding a mangrove propagule (seed) embodies protection, vitality, and the promise of growth.
The seed symbolizes what is new, what is going to grow.
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Una tipografía amigable, con estilo
manuscrito. Además, una abstracción
de mangle, que a su vez se fusiona
con la letra “M” para evocar las raíces
del árbol.
Las siluestas que representan a la vida
asociada al manglar, así como el pasado,
presente y futuro.
La canoa representa el medio de transporte como parte de la
cultura y tradición de la región.
Las siluetas de los niños representan el futuro de cara al manglar, la sucesión generacional y la inclusión de género.
  • El niño con un morral en su espalda, abierto al cocimiento, investigación y exploración de ese futuro.
  • La niña con el propágulo o semilla de manglar, confirmando la protección y la vitalidad.
La semilla simboliza lo nuevo,
lo que va a crecer.
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A circle conveys protection, adaptability,globality, and movement.

Yellow symbolizes the
horizon, hope, and vitality.

Blue represents the sea,
sky, water, and tranquility.

Learn about our history

Quality Standards

We are the first Blue Carbon program in the world certified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) standards and approved by Verra, where carbon stored in both mangrove forests and sediments is quantified in detail.

VCS is the most widely used GHG accreditation program globally. It channels financing toward projects that reduce and remove emissions, improve livelihoods, and protect nature, ensuring quality, integrity, diligence, and transparency.
CCB standards certify projects delivering tangible climate, community, and biodiversity benefits. They apply to land management projects including restoration, sustainable agriculture, and grassland management, either independently or alongside VCS, as in Vida Manglar. CCB requires stakeholder identification and full participation, respect for rights, monitoring of costs/benefits/risks, and maintenance of high conservation values.

We contributed to building high-quality criteria for blue carbon projects, included in a Practical Guide that promotes transparency and collaboration among developers, investors, and stakeholders.

 

View guide here

Governance Structure

Vida Manglar ensures strong stakeholder participation through an operational manual and resource allocation system that define how activities are carried out.

We have a governance structure that integrates actors, ensures technical and financial coherence, monitors impacts, and supports decision-making.

Two governing bodies support implementation:

Steering Committee

Guides financial and technical operations according to priorities

Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Sinú and San Jorge River Valleys – CVS | Marine and Coastal Research Institute “José Benito Vives de Andréis” – INVEMAR | Omacha Foundation | Conservation International | Acción Fund | Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development | External Advisor | Community Representative (as of 2026) | *Donors (as required)

Technical Committee

Ensures strength and efficiency of the annual operational plan

CVS | Invemar | Fundación Omacha | Conservation International| Fondo Acción | Four mangrove community representatives

We are a grouped program currently implementing Phase 1 in the protected area known as the Regional Integrated Management District (DRMI) of Cispatá Bay, La Balsa, Tinajones, and surrounding areas of the Sinú River delta in the Colombian Caribbean. Here, we work alongside mangrove communities under a unique sustainable use model in Colombia based on rotational forest management.

Within the Comprehensive Management Plan (PIM), zoning allows for sustainable use of natural resources. Associations receive permits for organized timber use.

This model is unique and has proven effective, ensuring ecosystem conservation and limiting illegal activities.

In the future, we aim to include additional mangrove areas. Research and additionality assessments are underway in protected areas of Coveñas and Tolú in the Sucre department.