Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 4

Phase 5

Serra do Sudeste Landscape Restoration

Serra do Sudeste is a landscape restoration project in the transition zone between the Atlantic Forest and the Pampa biome in Brazil. With their local partners, SDS restores riparian forests and severe cases of erosion, while respecting the natural grasslands.

Verra Registry

Brazil

35,000

hm2

Landscape project

Expected 2.95 million tonnes of CO₂

Project ID 3299

Project design and unique impact

We guide you through each stage of the project development lifecycle:

Rabobank-powered scalability

Rabobank’s position as Brazil’s leading agribank, with access to over 14 million hectares across 1,500 clients, uniquely enables rapid landowner enrollment, backed by green finance incentives and commercial banking tools.

Strategic location

Located in Mato Grosso’s Gaúcha do Norte municipality, at the confluence of the Amazon,TFF restores ecological corridors in one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots.

Grouped modular design

As a grouped project, TFF scales restoration through replicable modules combining assisted natural regeneration, direct seeding, and silvopastoral systems, applicable across diverse landowner properties.

Tech-enabled implementation

The Story.

The Pampa biome of southern Brazil is one of the most ecologically fragile and underprotected regions in South America. Characterized by grasslands interspersed with wetlands and riparian forests, it faces mounting pressures from decades of land degradation. Climate extremes such as intensifying droughts and floods have become more frequent, threatening both ecological stability and rural livelihoods. Restoration has emerged as one of the most critical interventions to address these intersecting crises.

Serra do Sudeste responds directly to this need. Rather than converting the biome’s valuable natural grasslands, the project targets severely degraded areas, riparian zones and eroded hillsides that once supported native forests. These zones are essential for water regulation, soil stability, and biodiversity. Through native reforestation and assisted natural regeneration, the project restores ecological function, rebuilds resilience to extreme weather, and reconnects fragmented forest corridors.

The project is implemented in partnership with local landowners, cooperatives, and universities, embedding restoration within community development. Local workers are trained and employed throughout the project cycle, ensuring that carbon finance translates into tangible socio-economic benefits. Stakeholders co-develop restoration plans, enhancing buy-in and ensuring alignment with both environmental and social priorities.

Beyond climate mitigation, Serra do Sudeste contributes to global biodiversity goals by supporting the recovery of species listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. This work is guided by the highest international standards, with certification under Verra’s VCS and CCB frameworks. In doing so, Serra do Sudeste offers a replicable model for integrated land restoration that strengthens ecosystems, safeguards communities, and builds long-term climate resilience in one of Brazil’s most vulnerable landscapes.

‍

Partner

F&W Forestry
F&W Forestry is the operational backbone of Serra do Sudeste. Founded in 1962 in the United States, F&W has over six decades of experience in sustainable forestry, land management, and certification services. With operations spanning the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, F&W is recognized for its rigorous quality controls and deep commitment to sustainable land stewardship.

In Brazil, F&W plays a pivotal role in implementing field operations—from seedling selection and site preparation to planting, maintenance, and monitoring. Their forest engineers and technicians are embedded in the local landscape, working directly with landowners and workers to ensure each hectare is restored to high ecological and carbon standards. F&W’s process includes low-input forest management, biodiversity-sensitive planting design, and integration of local knowledge into restoration practices.

The Green Branch
As the project developer and lead strategist, The Green Branch drives the certification process, stakeholder engagement, landowner partnerships, and financial structuring. TGB ensures the highest integrity standards in alignment with Verra methodologies and oversees the project's scalability across the Pampa biome.

Environmental impact.

Serra do Sudeste restores fragmented ecosystems and critical biodiversity corridors across Brazil’s Pampa biome. Using a blend of native species, assisted natural regeneration, and ecological design principles, the project rebuilds soil structure, enhances water retention, and supports habitat for over 100 threatened species. Restoration is targeted at high-value conservation zones and degraded APPs, maximizing carbon removal and biodiversity gains.

Community Involvement.

his is a project by and for local communities. Landowners co-develop reforestation plans, communities are employed in nurseries and maintenance, and youth are engaged through educational programs. Workers receive fair wages, meals, and training, setting a new benchmark for labor practices in rural conservation. As the forest matures, families benefit from diversified income streams and more resilient lands for their agricultural practices.

Serra do Sudeste is seeding a long-term restoration economy where rural prosperity and ecological integrity go hand in hand.

Serra do Sudeste Landscape Restoration

Endorsed under Verra’s VCS and CCB standards, Serra do Sudeste has earned Gold Level distinctions for Climate, Community, and Biodiversity, demonstrating its exceptional resilience-building and inclusive design.

Rabobank-powered scalability

Strategic location

Grouped modular design

Tech-enabled implementation

Partner

Community Involvement.