Inside CSN+: Protecting Forests While Securing Future Coffee Supply

As sustainability expectations continue to evolve across the coffee industry, transparency on the ground has become increasingly important for buyers seeking resilient and responsible supply chains.

In northern Peru, the CSN+ Project (Selva Norte Conservation Project) represents one of the initiatives working to connect coffee production, forest conservation, and long-term community development through a practical field-based approach. The project recently completed its first year of climate financing verification, marking an important milestone for both the participating communities and the broader conservation strategy behind the initiative.

What is CSN+?

CSN+ is a grouped REDD+ conservation project developed across the regions of Amazonas, San Martín, and Cajamarca in northern Peru. The initiative operates within legally protected conservation areas, including Conservation Concessions, Private Conservation Areas, Regional Conservation Areas, and peasant communities working alongside local governments and private organizations.

The project’s primary objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to deforestation across more than 200,000 hectares while simultaneously strengthening local livelihoods and improving the sustainability of coffee production systems.

Rather than separating conservation from production, the model focuses on integrating both through:

• High-productivity agroforestry systems

• Sustainable value chain development

• Governance strengthening

• Financial support mechanisms for conservation activities

• Technical assistance for producing communities

Ecotierra acts as the project developer and coordinating partner, while Café Selva Norte provides operational and technical support on the ground.

Why Northern Peru Matters

Peru’s Amazon forests represent one of the world’s largest tropical carbon reserves, but these ecosystems continue to face pressure from:

• Illegal logging

• Expanding agricultural frontiers

• Migratory farming

• Livestock expansion

• Climate change impacts

Many conservation areas in the region operate with limited financial resources and low economic activity, making long-term conservation difficult without sustainable economic alternatives.

The CSN+ approach seeks to address this challenge by linking conservation directly with productive and economic opportunities for local communities, particularly through coffee agroforestry systems.

First-Year Verification Mission

Earlier this year, a field verification mission was carried out by Cindy Ramos and Manuel Flores of the CSN and Ecotierra team to evaluate the first year of activities financed under the project’s Bridge Financing Mechanism.

The mission focused on verifying:

• Agroforestry implementation

• Productive activities linked to conservation

• Monitoring and forest patrol activities

• Community participation

• Financial execution

• Technical reporting compliance

• Social engagement and governance initiatives

The objective was not only administrative verification, but direct in-field validation of how conservation agreements were being implemented in practice.

What “Compliance” Means on the Ground

Within CSN+, conservation agreements are monitored through both technical and financial reporting combined with on-site verification visits.

In practical terms, compliance means that participating organizations and communities are actively implementing the activities defined within their agreements. These activities often include:

• Productive agroforestry systems

• Forest monitoring and patrols

• Community governance

• Educational activities

• Commercial development

• Social participation initiatives

According to the verification results, all participating entities successfully completed the activities established under their first-year agreements.

Concrete Examples from the Field

The first year generated several visible outcomes across participating conservation areas.

Acobosay Conservation Concession

• Installation of 10 hectares of coffee agroforestry systems

• Creation of a cooperative structure

• Investment in governance and producer organization strengthening

• Support for community forest rangers through GPS and drone equipment

Tingana Conservation Concession

• Biodiversity monitoring using camera traps and drones

• Development of Vanilla pompona propagation modules

• Improvements to eco-lodge infrastructure

• Financing of forest custodians responsible for monitoring activities

Bella Durmiente Conservation Concession

• Installation of 10 hectares of coffee agroforestry systems

• Development of a community brand

• Strengthening of local productive initiatives including nurseries, guinea pig farming, and medicinal plants

Huiquilla Private Conservation Area

• Trail maintenance and ecotourism infrastructure

• Educational and biodiversity communication materials

• Research support for monitoring the Andean night monkey population

Copallín Community

• Installation of 10 hectares of coffee agroforestry systems

• Community forest monitoring programs

• Technical support linked to livestock activities

Challenges Identified

The verification process also highlighted operational challenges.

Climate conditions delayed certain monitoring and control activities during the year, although all planned activities were ultimately completed. Delays in financing disbursements were also identified as an operational limitation reinforcing the importance of strong financial coordination in scaling climate projects.

These findings are now being integrated into future planning and financing structures.

Why This Matters for Coffee Buyers

For international coffee buyers, projects like CSN+ go beyond environmental communication.

By strengthening agroforestry systems, governance, and conservation practices, the project contributes directly to:

• Long-term supply resilience

• Climate adaptation

• Improved traceability

• Community stability

• Reduced deforestation pressure

• Access to impact-driven sourcing opportunities

The initiative also supports measurable environmental outcomes through verified carbon mechanisms while reinforcing sustainable coffee production systems at origin.

Looking Ahead

The first year of field verification demonstrates that combining climate finance, technical support, and community participation can generate tangible environmental and social results on the ground.

As the project continues to evolve, ongoing field monitoring and transparent verification processes will remain central to ensuring credibility, accountability, and measurable impact for both producing communities and international partners.

Interested in learning more about the CSN+ Project or exploring future access to verified carbon credits linked to forest conservation and agroforestry initiatives in northern Peru?

We invite interested organizations to connect with our team to discuss upcoming opportunities related to carbon markets, conservation impact, and long-term sustainability partnerships.

For more information, please contact:

Elizabeth Lopez

Carbon Markets and Partnerships Development

Coordinatore.lopez@ecotierra.co