This methodology is designed to form the framework for the auditing, monitoring and monetisation of conservation assets, laying the foundations from which many further carbon credits can be sourced through good governance and practice. These credits include Carbon Offset Credits, Nutrient Credits, Water Credits, Phosphate, Nitrate and Sulphur Credits, in addition to Ecosystem and Wildlife credits.
The methodology and objective behind the Conservation Credits through the ‘Global Conservation Standard’ (GCS) was originally designed to value and monetise rainforests to reduce deforestation while compensating indigenous communities through, not only commercial returns, but also technology and farming expertise, the company said.
Wetlands areas such as the Everglades, peat areas, and critical forestry locations, such as Amazonas, all fall within the Green Conservation Standard remit.
Gregg Fryett, CEO of CCF, said: “In order to obtain a return on ethical investment, the GCS standard generates Conservation Credits, which formalize a relationship for several other credit types to be created, through externally accepted methodology, into the voluntary and certified markets.
“Corporations are able to fulfil their environmental and CSR ‘obligations’ while having access to a potential revenue from generated credits. A large volume of credits produced from implementation of the conservation credit schemes are already being traded through exchanges or principal to principal. Indeed we are, through our Fund Management Company, already looking at this for fund placement.”
By introducing this standard, CCF believes that it, with the support of corporations and investors, in addition to the general public, can certainly reduce deforestation and, indeed, reverse it within an acceptably short period. The program also generates considerable CSR benefits for the credit buyers.
The GCS Standard document, initial methodology, and project information, will be released within the next few weeks. A technical review is expected to take place in February, followed by a three-week public review period.
