About

Carbono Biodiverso stands as the guardian of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, integrating conservation, regeneration, and socioeconomic returns.

Threat

Every day, forests stand at risk

In the highlands of Central Mexico the cloud-shrouded Sierra Gorda mountains protect some of the region’s oldest and most constantly they are biodiverse forests, but constantly the are under threat.

Mexican forest degradation is driven by the lack of meaningful economic returns for private landowners, ejidos, and communities. In search of income, many turn to agriculture, timber extraction, or land-use change, gradually depleting natural capital and receiving only modest gains in return.

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VISION

Economic development through environmental care

The Carbono Biodiverso Protocol implemented in Querétaro, Mexico, is a pioneering carbon-offset model that aligns corporate sustainability efforts with environmental protection and regional socioeconomic development. Developed by Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda, and based on four decades of experience and deep knowledge of local socioeconomic realities, and in alliance with the Secretariat of Sustainable Development (SEDESU), this protocol ensures fair compensation for landowners while promoting effective carbon capture, forest regeneration and biodiversity recovery.

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REGENERATION

Letting nature heal itself

No carbon-sequestration technology, nor newly planted trees can rival the carbon held within these vulnerable old-growth ecosystems. Carbono Biodiverso methodology is firmly rooted in the belief that natural forest regeneration is the most effective method for protecting and restoring Sierra Gorda’s forests. Carbono Biodiverso pays local forest owners to remove their cattle. It ensures fair compensation for landowners while promoting effective carbon sequestration and forest conservation. Since the implementation of Carbono Biodiverso Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) has witnessed the return of near extinct species, tree species and the restoration of complex ancient forest ecosystems.

“If we remove human pressure, nature, in spite of everything, still has the capacity to heal itself.”

Roberto Ruiz

Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda.

METHODOLOGY

Working to a strict framework

Carbono Biodiverso establishes rigorous standards to ensure its full accountability and effectiveness as a viable nature-based solution. Forest owners who participate in Carbono Biodiverso must meet the protocol’s eligibility and additionality requirements.

The protocol requires activities that promote forest regeneration, including excluding cattle, prohibiting tree harvesting and fire use, preventing and managing forest fires, reporting pests or diseases promptly, and regularly monitoring the forest to ensure natural regeneration.

The lands involved in the project must be forest lands.

The project proponent must be a civil society organization with knowledge of the region and its activities.

The civil society organization must have at least three years of experience in the project area.

Social safeguards, requiring free, prior, and informed consent from stakeholders and ensuring equitable social, gender, cultural, and participatory benefits within the community.

The project must comply with all relevant local laws and regulations.

The project must demonstrate additionality, meaning it generates carbon benefits that would not have occurred without it.

The baseline for carbon accounting is based on existing forest carbon stocks, with all additional carbon stocks eligible for offset production.

Tree biomass is mandatory; understory, deadwood, litter, forest floor, and soil carbon are optional if justified.

Our Allies

Pulling together in a crisis

Carbono Biodiverso is a remarkable convergence of allies, demonstrating the value of joint work among civil society, communities, the private sector, and government. It represents a powerful integration of local knowledge, cutting-edge technology, ecological science, ancestral wisdom, and public policy, all united by a shared commitment to regeneration and inclusive community participation. Together, these combined efforts deliver measurable emissions reductions and open a path of hope in the face of global challenges.

Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P. is a civil society organisation created as a response from local citizens to the rapid environmental deterioration of the Sierra Gorda national park. For 4 decades they have developed multiple solutions to strengthen community well-being, regenerate ecosystems, rebuild soils, innovate in a circular conservation economy, mitigate climate change, and implement a community-friendly protocol for forest owners.

OpenForests developed a fully integrated digital system that manages land registration, carbon inventory, transactions, synchronised payments, a public registry, and satellite-image monitoring. With a forestry and social-justice background, they ensure transparent reporting and long-term satellite-based monitoring.

SEDESU, Carbono Biodiverso is the product of a thriving partnership between Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda and the Secretaría de Desarrollo Sustentable de Querétaro, Together they uphold the mutual understanding of local needs together with recognition for total accountability and transparency. This collaboration has resulted in the launch of a state-driven regulation called the Querétaro Seal, a local carbon tax system where Querétaro companies can offset through local carbon projects in the Sierra Gorda biosphere.

Viva Sierra Gorda is critical in bringing together vital partnerships between technology companies and the Carbono Biodiverso protocol, from managing the carbon unit payment platform to overseeing the implementation of Openforest’s mapping software that traces and verifies all project data. Viva Sierra Gorda is also responsible for the fundraising that can make such impactful alliances a reality.

Apala Group plays a fundamental role in securing and linking clients to Carbono Biodiverso. Recently Uber Planet Mexico formed a strategic alliance with Apala Group and announced its commitment to the regeneration of the country's natural heritage by joining the Carbono Biodiverso' project.