For the first time, children living in the Rio Preto-Jacundá Extractive Reserve received specialized pediatric care. The initiative was identified by community leaders and incorporated into the annual action plan of the RESEX Jacundá REDD+ Project.
Although financing vulnerable communities became a major topic during COP27, supporting local development has been a fundamental component of the RESEX Jacundá REDD+ Project since its inception. The project recognizes that improving quality of life is directly connected to long-term forest conservation and the reduction of deforestation.
Operating within the Rio Preto-Jacundá Extractive Reserve, the initiative seeks to strengthen traditional extractive livelihoods, support community organizations and reduce rural migration by creating better living conditions for local families. Through its Community Life Plan, the project promotes actions focused on health, education and social development based on priorities identified by the residents themselves.
In 2022, community leaders from ASMOREX identified the need to provide specialized pediatric care due to the growing number of young children living in the Reserve. As a result, pediatric consultations were included in the project’s annual action plan, leading to the first-ever visit of Dr. Helena, who provided medical care for children from birth to five years of age.
“This is an unprecedented initiative in the Reserve. We included it in our annual planning, and today Dr. Helena is here providing pediatric care for the children of our community.”
José Pinheiro Borges, Community Leader of ASMOREX
The primary objective of the initiative was to begin monitoring children’s development from early childhood by assessing growth, identifying potential health conditions at an early stage and referring patients to specialized medical services whenever necessary. Early diagnosis and preventive healthcare are essential for improving quality of life and ensuring healthier childhood development in remote Amazon communities.
Watch how the initiative benefited the community
Learn more about this unprecedented healthcare initiative through the testimonials of community members and project partners.
Health and conservation go hand in hand
The pediatric consultations represent another example of how the RESEX Jacundá REDD+ Project integrates social development with environmental conservation. By investing in healthcare, education and community well-being, the project strengthens local resilience while creating the conditions necessary for families to continue living sustainably within the forest.
Initiatives driven by community priorities reinforce the project’s long-term commitment to improving quality of life and demonstrate how climate finance can generate lasting social benefits alongside biodiversity conservation and deforestation reduction.
Learn more about the RESEX Jacundá REDD+ Project and discover how your organization can support community development while offsetting carbon emissions through high-integrity carbon credits.
