Biodiversity Conservation Certification

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) just launched the "Global Biodiversity Standard: Manual for Assessment and Best Practices,” including the 10 golden rules of #reforestation, emphasizing the dual objectives of #carbon sequestration and positive impacts on community livelihoods and native biodiversity. This will be a new certification tool and practitioners will have the opportunity to participate and receive training. In sum, the Global Biodiversity Standard is designed to provide assurance that #tree planting, habitat #restoration, and #agroforestry practices are protecting, restoring, and enhancing #biodiversity. The methodology outlined was created and refined collaboratively with a diverse group of organizations and experts. As highlighted by our strategic partner Eliane Ubalijoro, Chief Executive Officer at World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), “the methodology presented in these pages has been conceived and developed by an impressive array of organizations and individuals, including biodiversity experts, ecologists, sociologists, tree planting organisations and certification agencies in consultation with local communities. It has also been rigorously tested across more than 100 projects and land uses in multiple countries and cultures.” Invaluable input for all our five-star restoration champions here in #Brazil, such as re.green, Belterra Agroforestry, and Rioterra - and the world over. Let us all step up because natural ecosystem restoration offers a tremendous and possibly the largest-scale, most cost-effective, near-term opportunity for climate mitigation and community development! 🙏🏾🌎🌳 See full report below, or download it from the following link: https://lnkd.in/dvzbGrGF

We have studied extensively 13 of the leading biodiversity credit schemes. Results were surprising!   The Biodiversity Footprint Intelligence Company (BioInt) (in particular Giada Lampitelli & me) and Bloom Labs (Simas Gradeckas) have spent months analyzing the inner workings biodiversity certificate schemes, their indicators & metrics. You thought you had seen it all? (and if you’re discovering our work, check out the links in comments!)   Today I’m releasing a new batch of fresh content focusing on 13 leading schemes! (and we'll present it all in a webinar in coming weeks)     📖 Before delving into the key insights, quick reminder: Biodiversity certificates go through a number of steps in their life cycle: Registration ➡ Implementation ➡ Verification ➡ Issuance ➡ Transaction ➡ Retirement   At the registration step, indicators are used to calculate the total amount of potential certificates that can be registered at the start of a project. This is what we call the “certificate calculation” step and this is the focus of today’s analysis (at the issuance step, other indicators are used to establish how many credits can actually be issued at milestones over the project lifetime).     💡 So what have we learned? 1️⃣ Standard setters have not yet made up their mind on how flexible indicators should be Half allows project developers to choose the best metric to report against an indicator, while the other half impose the metrics. 2️⃣ 62% of the schemes use an Absolute uplift measurement system, the remaining 38% use a Relative one This is a major difference. There are valid reasons to favour a "relative" uplift measurement system but overall, certificates based on such systems are worth less than those based on absolute measurement systems.   3️⃣ Close to half the schemes "cook" Condition-adjusted area "dishes", and many other include other considerations in their "recipe" 4️⃣ More than a third of the schemes do not consider time into their formula to register credits This is another major difference between schemes, even though this one is even more technical (I’ll probably post about it in the future). There is a lack of clarity from standards & methodologies on this critical aspect, this needs to improve. 5️⃣ More than half of the schemes consider Significance as a credit rating category (a "nutri-score") and do not integrate it into the credit calculation itself 6️⃣ Almost all the schemes cover both Conservation and Restoration activities     Looking forward to expanding this analysis to more schemes!     💬 What surprises you in those insights?

🇪🇺 The European Union has unveiled a package of new initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and safeguarding #biodiversity globally worth close to €160 million at #COP16. 🇪🇺 ✅ Towards #biodiversitycertification and #naturecredits The EU presented its exploratory works on the potential and challenges of biodiversity certification and nature credits, as part of the innovative finance instruments toolbox for - broadening sources of funding to mobilise resources, - help companies set #naturepositive goals, and - reward those who protect and restore #nature, including farmers, foresters, fishers, and other sea- and land managers as well as IPLCs. EU exploratory works include two pilot projects, one on wetlands in partnership with France 🇫🇷 and one on private forests in partnership with Estonia 🇪🇪 , as well as a project in the Peruvian Amazon. These projects are conceived to make a positive contribution to nature, not to offset or compensate for the destruction of #biodiversity. The EU's approach to biodiversity certification and nature credits is resolutely collaborative, by engaging with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and international partners, such as the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits, the Biodiversity Credits Alliance and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. ✅ €69 million package of actions aimed at enhancing capacity and increasing knowledge in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to provide support to governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) ✅ €48 million programme on illegal wildlife trafficking ✅ Through a €40 million program, partner countries will be supported in their efforts to conserve and sustainably manage biodiversity in the high seas ✅ Since public funds will not be sufficient to address the #biodiversityfinancing gap, the EU is stepping up efforts to leverage private capital through de-risking instruments such as blending and guarantees from the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) and as part of the Global Gateway Strategy. #sustainability https://lnkd.in/dwAvNgHW