Social Carbon, an evolving carbon standard, has announced plans to roll out a new 'nature stewardship credit' methodology by the third quarter of this year. The pioneering initiative, set to launch its first pilot in 2025, is developed in collaboration with conservation non-profit Natural State. This new credit system aims to complement areas less viable for traditional carbon credits, focusing on sustainable land management.
Toucan sitting on a tree in a Brazilian forest. AI generated picture.
Mike Davies, CEO of Social Carbon, expressed the phased approach strategy for implementing these credits, starting within existing carbon projects. ‘We’re taking our co-benefit monitoring as our foundation. The whole structure is around sustainable livelihood. There are metrics to track biodiversity, natural capital and ecosystems, and social impacts to communities’, Davies explained.
Read more: Conservation efforts help biodiversity, new research shows
The upcoming credits will represent sustainably managed hectares of land, promoting both ecosystem restoration and conservation while supporting sustainable livelihoods. According to Glenn Morley, the co-chair of Social Carbon, the initiative is crucial for refining methodologies to ensure effectiveness before widespread adoption.
Originally launched as a co-benefit standard by Brazil's Ecologica Institute in 2005, Social Carbon transitioned to focus on comprehensive carbon and nature-based solutions in 2022. The new credits are intended to be incorporated into all eligible carbon projects, aiming to provide a modular asset within the carbon credit framework.
Read more: Ugly species need biodiversity protection too
This initiative is part of a broader movement towards biodiversity conservation, amplified by the global attention to voluntary biodiversity credit markets after the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As the market develops, these credits could offer a new avenue for financing conservation efforts, particularly in regions with minimal deforestation risks but significant conservation needs.
DGB Group collaborates extensively with government bodies, non-profit groups, local communities, and private sector entities to enhance the effectiveness of our global nature-restoration projects. This partnership-based strategy ensures that our initiatives are ecologically sound and socially equitable, enhancing sustainable land management and ecosystems. Leveraging the skills and resources of ecologists, foresters, agronomists, and technical specialists, DGB advocates for responsible land use and the conservation of biodiversity. Additionally, all projects undergo independent verification by prominent certification bodies to validate their impact and authenticity.
Choose DGB’s solutions to invest in the future of our planet
