The “Alliance for the Development of Natural Capital in Berriozábal, Chiapas: Science · Conservation · Carbon · Communities” brings together representatives from Berriozábal and Chiapas with BCarbon, Earth Carbon, the Rice University SSPEED Center, and the Baker Institute for Public Policy to establish a collaborative framework for the conservation and valuation of natural capital in the region.

The meeting, held on October 1, 2026, at Rice University in Houston, Texas, focused on developing a model for the conservation and valuation of the natural capital of the Selva Zoque biological corridor, integrating science, measurement, and high-integrity carbon protocols to transform ecosystem conservation and restoration into sustainable economic opportunities for landowners and local communities.

Key topics included natural capital, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, resilience, and MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification), as well as the potential to develop projects capable of accessing voluntary carbon markets through robust, transparent, and scientifically grounded standards.

A central milestone of the meeting was the signing of the Collaboration Agreement, establishing the foundation for the participating institutions to work together on the assessment, design, and development of the project in Berriozábal.

This alliance represents an important first step toward building a model in which science supports conservation, carbon generates economic value, and the communities that protect these ecosystems directly participate in the benefits created by their natural capital.

Vision: To transform the extraordinary natural capital of Chiapas into a long-term environmental, social, and economic asset, demonstrating that conservation can also generate prosperity for communities and contribute to a more resilient future.