The International Carbon Registry (ICR) has launched a new Pilot Biodiversity Program to integrate biodiversity conservation with global sustainability efforts. This initiative provides a framework for projects to enhance biodiversity and offers organisations a quantifiable means to compensate for their impact or contribute positively. Projects will be registered and issued biodiversity credits on CarbonRegistry.com.
Close-up of tree seedlings, African forest biodiversity in the background. AI generated picture.
The ICR Biodiversity Program is designed to support biodiversity projects of various scales, promoting Biodiversity Net Gain with a focus on credibility and transparency. It aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and Biodiversity Net Gain principles, addressing biodiversity loss and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.
Initially, the programme will operate in a pilot phase, enabling the swift implementation of innovative projects focused on priority areas and species. This phase will incorporate lessons learned to ensure effective and efficient programme evolution.
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The programme emphasises high environmental and social integrity standards, fostering transparency, accountability, and the active participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). Projects will be validated and verified by an independent third party. ICR, in collaboration with validation and verification bodies, will develop specifications for auditing based on pilot phase experiences.
The programme aims to establish and scale up biodiversity credit markets, mobilising necessary finance for conservation and restoration while maintaining high standards of integrity and transparency.
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ICR has appointed Alvaro Vallejo as the Biodiversity Program Lead. With over 34 years of experience in forest and biodiversity management, Vallejo's expertise will be invaluable. His extensive background includes roles at Cercarbono and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and he has worked with the World Bank’s BioCarbon Fund and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility.
‘We are honoured to welcome Alvaro Vallejo to the ICR team’, said Guðmundur Sigbergsson, CEO of ICR. ‘His extensive background in carbon markets and biodiversity conservation are invaluable as the ICR continues to develop and implement innovative solutions to meet environmental challenges.’
DGB Group’s carbon projects prioritise the conservation of nature, supporting biodiversity by implementing nature-based solutions that help companies reduce their carbon footprint while making a positive impact on the environment. At DGB, carbon compensation goes beyond mere offsetting. Our high-quality projects actively rejuvenate biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and uplift local communities. By focusing on biodiversity, we contribute to the health and resilience of natural habitats, ensuring a thriving environment for future generations.
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