The conservation of biodiversity and the protection of the country’s natural resources will receive a significant boost through an investment of approximately G. 50 billion in environmental services certificates to protect native forests in Paraguay.
This initiative, led by the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), seeks to offset the environmental impact of five major road projects underway in both the eastern and western regions of the country.
Environmental Services Certificates represent an innovative tool that allows owners of native forests to receive financial compensation for maintaining and protecting their forest reserves, preventing their conversion.
This mechanism, validated by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES), recognises the ecological value of these properties and their fundamental contribution to the preservation of native forests in Paraguay as part of the country’s natural heritage.
Road projects that promote sustainable development
The environmental investment will be distributed among five strategic road infrastructure projects. The most significant is the Improvement and Paving of Route PY15, which will allocate Gs 26 billion to environmental conservation.
This is followed by the Road Works for the Enabling and Maintenance of the Milk Route in the Western Region (Gs 9 billion), the Physical Connectivity Improvement Project for the Northern Corridor (Gs 7.5 billion), the Improvement of the Agroindustrial Corridor of the Eastern Region (Gs 5 billion), and the Paving of the Quiindy – Villa Florida – San Juan Bautista Section (Gs 2 billion).
Legal framework that guarantees sustainability
This initiative is based on Law 3001/2016 on “Valuation and Remuneration of Environmental Services”, which requires investment of 1% of the total amount of high environmental impact works in mitigation measures.
The MOPC is one of the pioneering state institutions in implementing this system of environmental compensation in its infrastructure projects, setting an important precedent for other public entities.
Supervision and transparency in management
The Directorate of Socio-Environmental Management (DGSA) of the MOPC supervises the technical and administrative processes to assess the environmental services of the participating owners.
Calls for tenders for these certificates are currently underway on the portal of the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP), ensuring transparency in the management of these resources.
Impact on national conservation
A government spokesperson hailed the news as great fpr the preservation of native forests in Paraguay, as well as infrastructure. “The purchase of environmental certificates not only contributes to mitigating the environmental impact of road works, but also establishes a development model that balances progress in infrastructure with environmental preservation.”
“The program encourages the active conservation of natural resources, creating a virtuous circle where the development of road infrastructure directly contributes to the protection of Paraguay’s native forests.”
