Centro de Estudos Rioterra

What Centro de Estudos Rioterra does

Centro de Estudos Rioterra is a Brazilian non-profit civil society organization (associação civil sem fins lucrativos) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Porto Velho, Rondônia, dedicated to Amazon forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable rural development. The organization operates a portfolio of integrated programs serving family farmers, extractivist communities, and indigenous peoples across 23 municipalities in Rondônia (covering roughly 30% of the state's territory). Core programmatic offerings include Agroverde (Payment for Environmental Services / carbon credits via Verra certification), REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá (carbon credit generation initiated 2012), Plantar Rondônia (Forest Code implementation for rural properties up to 240 hectares), Quintais Amazônicos and Quintais Amazônicos II (agroforestry systems on degraded lands), Semeando Sustentabilidade (sustainable agriculture), Pecuária+ (cattle ranching qualification), Energias Renováveis and Luz para Educação (renewable energy deployment), and the Festival dos Povos da Floresta cultural initiative.

Rioterra's underlying capabilities span native seedling production through a dedicated nursery in Itapuã do Oeste (over 1 million seedlings per season, 10M+ cumulatively), agroforestry systems (SAFs) implementation, carbon stock quantification research developed since 2016, geotechnology-based landscape analysis, and seed bank management preserving 101 native species in partnership with ICMBio. The organization operates the Centro de Bioeconomia e Conservação da Amazônia (CBCA), a 1,000-hectare research site hosting Rondônia's first Long Duration Study Site (SELD) for native species genetic improvement, and uses Sigweb as a web-based environmental monitoring tool. Delivery occurs primarily through direct project implementation, ATER (technical assistance and rural extension) teams in the field, and partnerships with 120 civil society organizations.

The business model is project-based financing from government and non-governmental sources rather than commercial pricing. Cumulative funding from BNDES/Fundo Amazônia alone exceeds R$90 million across three major projects over 12 years, with R$23 million in new partner investment committed in 2025. Other anchor funders include Petrobras Socioambiental Program, Reforest'Action (Agroverde partnership running until 2052), ICMBio, INCRA, MDA, Bezos Earth Fund, and AXIA Energia. Emerging revenue streams include REDD+ carbon credit sales (Resex Rio Preto Jacundá) and Payment for Environmental Services contracts under Agroverde. The organization employs 50-100 people (51.32% female), maintains a 100% female Board of Directors, and operates under Selo DOAR Category A certification for management and transparency (2024).

Name

Centro de Estudos Rioterra

Legal name

Centro de Estudos da Cultura e do Meio Ambiente da Amazônia Rioterra

Website

https://rioterra.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centro de Estudos Rioterra is a Brazilian non-profit founded in 1999 that delivers forest restoration, agroforestry, REDD+ carbon credits, and environmental regularization programs for family farmers, extractivist communities, and indigenous peoples across 23 municipalities in Rondônia, funded primarily by BNDES/Fundo Amazônia and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reforestation & Afforestation Services (Planting, Site Prep, Regeneration) (IMAMAAAE), Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Forest restoration
• Carbon credit projects
• Agroforestry systems
• Rural extension services
• Environmental conservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Pôrto Velho

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Project-Based Financing: The organization operates primarily through funded projects from governmental and non-governmental sources. Major investments include over R$23 million in 2025 alone from partners for family farming and forest conservation projects. Cumulative funding from Fundo Amazônia alone exceeds R$90 million across three major projects.
2. Carbon Credits (REDD+): Generation and sale of carbon credits through REDD+ projects, specifically the REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá project initiated in 2012. The project develops payment for environmental services systems and generates carbon credits through avoided deforestation and forest conservation.
3. Payment for Environmental Services (PSA): Pioneering Payment for Environmental Services system through the Agroverde project, where farmers receive payments for maintaining restored areas, with annual PSA payments from 2026-2052 under the Agro Verde project.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Centro de Estudos Rioterra is a Brazilian non-profit organization that implements environmental restoration, forest conservation, and sustainable rural development programs across the Amazon biome. Its core work combines native reforestation, agroforestry system design, carbon credit generation through REDD+ and Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) schemes, and technical assistance to family farmers, extractivist communities, and indigenous peoples in Rondônia.

Product overview

Centro de Estudos Rioterra (Rioterra – Centro de Inovação da Amazônia) operates as a non-governmental organization focused on sustainable development in the Amazon, offering a portfolio of interconnected environmental and social programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Agroverde/Agro Verde for environmental restoration with Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) and carbon credits; REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá for forest conservation and carbon credit generation; Plantar Rondônia for rural environmental regularization; Quintais Amazônicos and Quintais Amazônicos II for agroforestry systems; Semeando Sustentabilidade for sustainable agriculture; Energias Renováveis and Luz para Educação for renewable energy solutions; Pecuária+ for cattle ranching improvement; CBCA for bioeconomy research; ATER for technical assistance services; and a native seedling nursery (Viveiro de Mudas). The organization also manages Sigweb as a web-based monitoring tool. Supporting initiatives include the Festival dos Povos da Floresta cultural program, seed bank (Banco de Sementes Matrizes), and various capacity-building projects. Funding comes primarily from the Amazon Fund (BNDES), Fundo Amazônia, Petrobras Socioambiental Program, Reforest'Action, and other national and international partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Agroverde (Agro Verde) Environmental restoration project with Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) recovering degraded areas on family farms in the lower Jamari river sub-basin, pioneering carbon credit certification through Verra.
• REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá Carbon credit project avoiding deforestation in the Rio Preto Jacundá Extractive Reserve through the REDD+ mechanism, creating an alternative economic model for maintaining standing forests.
• Plantar Rondônia Pioneer project in Brazil supporting environmental regularization of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules (240 hectares), aligned with the Forest Code and Brazil's Paris Agreement commitments.
• Energias Renováveis Project introducing renewable energy technologies, particularly biodigesters, to improve living conditions for rural women, reduce respiratory problems from wood burning, and promote low-carbon agriculture.
• Luz para Educação Project bringing clean solar energy to communities without access to electricity, installing photovoltaic panels in schools located in extractive reserves.
• Quintais Amazônicos Agroforestry systems project recovering degraded areas in legal reserves and permanent preservation areas, generating alternative income for family farmers through sustainable production.
• Semeando Sustentabilidade Project developing non-linear production alternatives and environmental adequacy for family agriculture properties, sponsored by Petrobras through the Petrobras Socioenvironmental Program since 2010.
• Pecuária+ Project qualifying cattle ranching activity with focus on productive best practices and socioenvironmental responsibility, including technical exchanges and field days.
• CBCA - Centro de Bioeconomia e Conservação da Amazônia Center for Bioeconomy and Amazon Conservation, an unprecedented initiative in the Amazon biome developed in partnership with AXIA Energia and Instituto Amazônia+21, conducting research and demonstrations of restoration practices.
• ATER - Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural Technical assistance and rural extension services providing direct guidance to family farmers on sustainable production practices, agroforestry systems, and environmental management through field visits by extensionists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million hectares of areas conserved
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reforest'ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022French company specializing in forest recovery operating in 39 countries. Partnership for the Agroverde project to implement Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) and restore degraded areas on family farms through innovative financing mechanisms. Project runs until 2052 with 2,000 hectares targeted by 2026.
• Biofílica Investimentos AmbientaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental investment company partnering on the REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá project since 2012, the first REDD+ project in a state conservation unit in Rondônia. Supports carbon credit development and environmental conservation.
• ASMOREX (Associação de Moradores da Reserva Extrativista Rio Preto Jacundá)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Extractivist Reserve Residents partnering on REDD+ project implementation, community governance strengthening, and sustainable livelihood development in the Rio Preto Jacundá Extractive Reserve.
• FETAGRO (Federação dos Trabalhadores na Agricultura de Rondônia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState federation of agricultural workers in Rondônia. Cooperation partner in Plantar Rondônia project for environmental regularization of family farms, working through union network to reach beneficiary families.
• MDA (Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian Ministry of Agrarian Development. Partner since 2009 for consolidation of the PRONAT Program (Rural Territories of Identity) in Rondônia, supporting sustainable rural development and territorial governance.
• AXIA EnergiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company that allocated 1,000 hectares of land around the Santo Antônio Hydroelectric dam for the CBCA (Centro de Bioeconomia e Conservação da Amazônia), with over 300 hectares under forest restoration.
• Instituto Amazônia+21coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the CBCA initiative along with Rioterra and AXIA Energia, focused on deepening scientific knowledge and disseminating restoration best practices in the Amazon.
• Coalizão Agricultura, Florestas e ClimaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition supporting the CBCA SELD project for genetic improvement of native forest species, contributing technical expertise and funding for silviculture development.
• Universidade Federal do Sul da BahiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner coordinating the Native Species Silviculture Development Program, providing scientific expertise for the first Long Duration Study Site (SELD) in Rondônia.
• ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes da Biodiversidade)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal biodiversity institute. Partnership for seed bank creation at Floresta Nacional do Jamari and various conservation projects in protected areas.
• INCRA (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform. Signed Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) to support settlement families with degraded area recovery and environmental regularization.
• Sistema OCB/RO (Organização das Cooperativas Brasileiras)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState organization representing over 70 cooperatives and 500,000 cooperative members in Rondônia. Partnership for Pecuária+ project technical exchange and dairy cattle qualification.
• GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency. Visit by Director of Projects to present Pecuária+ project results, opening perspectives for sustainable development cooperation.
• BID (Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInter-American Development Bank. Organized LAC Flavors 2024 event where Rioterra participated, connecting Amazonian bioeconomy products to international markets.
• ApexBrasil (Agência Brasileira de Promoção de Exportações)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian export promotion agency supporting Rioterra's presence at LAC Flavors 2024, helping connect Amazonian bioeconomy products to international buyers.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International Brasil: Global conservation NGO with significant Brazil operations. Comparable in Amazon conservation, indigenous partnerships, and climate funding, though with broader international footprint and portfolio approach.
• The Nature Conservancy Brasil (TNC Brasil): Global conservation organization with major Brazil operations. Comparable in Amazon restoration, carbon credit generation, and partnerships with public and private funders, but operates at much larger scale across multiple biomes.
• World Resources Institute Brasil (WRI Brasil): Global research organization with strong Brazil presence. Comparable in climate finance, forest monitoring, and sustainable development work, though oriented more toward research/policy than field implementation like Rioterra.

Direct peers

• Imaflora (Instituto de Manejo e Certificação Florestal e Agrícola): Brazilian NGO focused on sustainable forestry, agriculture certification, and forest restoration. Comparable in forest restoration focus, carbon project development, and partnerships with rural producers and corporate buyers.
• ISA (Instituto Socioambiental): Major Brazilian socioenvironmental NGO working across the Amazon with indigenous peoples and traditional communities. Comparable in NGO structure, partnership-based funding model, indigenous land stewardship, and integrated conservation-development programs.
• Imazon (Instituto do Homem e Meio Ambiente da Amazônia): Brazilian Amazon research and policy NGO focused on sustainable development, deforestation monitoring, and forest management. Highly comparable to Rioterra in mission, regional focus (Pará/Amazon), and combination of research, advocacy, and field implementation.
• Reforest'Action: French company specializing in forest recovery across 39 countries and Agroverde partner. Comparable in native species reforestation, corporate-funded restoration, and PSA mechanisms, but operating globally rather than regionally.
• Amazônia+21: Brazilian NGO partner of Rioterra in the CBCA initiative. Comparable in bioeconomy research, native species silviculture, and partnerships with energy companies, though focused more on scientific dissemination than field implementation.

Regional players

• SOS Mata Atlântica: Major Brazilian environmental NGO focused on Atlantic Forest restoration. Comparable in forest restoration methodology, native seedling production, and donor-funded project model, but in a different biome and coastal geography.

Emerging players

• Biofílica Investimentos Ambientais: Brazilian environmental investment company partnering with Rioterra on the REDD+ Resex Rio Preto Jacundá project. Directly comparable as an Amazon-focused carbon project developer, but commercially oriented rather than non-profit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rioterraorgbr
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@rioterra.oficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/CESRioterra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rioterraorg
• Instagraminstagram.com/rioterra.org.br

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centro de Estudos Rioterra