**As the voluntary carbon market continues to mature and transparency requirements increase, the demonstration of additionality has become a decisive criterion for ensuring the integrity of carbon sequestration projects. In the field of Nature-based Solutions, where biophysical and socio-economic dynamics vary significantly from one territory to another, this requirement translates into the need for robust methodological tools capable of distinguishing the intrinsic effect of a project from the natural evolution of ecosystems. The VM0047 methodology developed under the Verra standard addresses this need by introducing the performance benchmark, a mechanism designed to assess the actual contribution of a reforestation project to carbon sequestration.**

**Reforest’Action has developed an ambitious operational application of this benchmark, relying on remote sensing data to strengthen the rigor of the assessment. By anchoring the analysis in the observed dynamics of vegetation, this approach makes it possible to establish the additionality of carbon sequestration achieved by projects and thereby provide companies and investors with a high level of assurance regarding their climate impact.**

## A Central Mechanism for the Integrity of ARR Projects

### The Requirement for Demonstrable Additionality

Additionality is a core determinant of the integrity of a carbon project. A carbon credit can only deliver environmental value if it corresponds to carbon sequestration that would not have occurred in the absence of carbon finance.

For forest projects—which may span tens of thousands of hectares, encompass multiple land-use types, and be influenced by a wide range of local socio-economic, political, and regulatory factors (such as agricultural land profitability, public policies supporting reforestation, or local land tenure dynamics)—demonstrating additionality represents a particular challenge.

Assessing each situation individually may lead to heterogeneous evaluations and difficult-to-compare arbitration across projects. To address this complexity while ensuring a consistent and coherent assessment framework, the VM0047 methodology under the Verra standard, which applies to afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation projects, relies on a standardized reference mechanism: the performance benchmark.

### Defining the Project’s Actual Contribution to Carbon Sequestration

Within VM0047, the performance benchmark serves as a reference threshold to determine whether a project is genuinely additional. In other words, it aims to quantify the actual contribution of a project to carbon storage at the parcel level over time, taking into account changes in land use across the project area. The contribution of a forest project to increased carbon sequestration is not the same in a region experiencing agricultural abandonment and the expansion of fallow land as it is in a region subject to agricultural intensification.

“The performance benchmark makes it possible to compare the overall regional trend in carbon sequestration with that of the implemented project,” explains Hugo Treuil-Dussouet, Geomatics and Remote Sensing Analyst at Reforest’Action. “This method allows us to determine the level of contribution a project makes to carbon sequestration on the parcels concerned. For example, in a parcel that has been reforested at 100% as part of a carbon project, the project may in fact only contribute to 70% of the carbon sequestration, given that the remaining 30% would have been sequestered through vegetation development even in the absence of the project.”

### Applying the Performance Benchmark at Reforest’Action

In line with the Verra methodology, Reforest’Action relies on remote sensing to observe vegetation dynamics. A donor area is first defined in order to delineate a sufficiently large zone characterized by legal, ecological, and management conditions similar to those of the project area. Within this zone, control plots are identified, which together constitute a dynamic baseline representing the natural evolution of vegetation cover in the absence of a reforestation project.

The comparison between the sequestration trajectories of project plots and those of control plots is based on a Stocking Index, specifically the Normalized Difference Fraction Index (NDFI). This indicator, derived from spectral unmixing, makes it possible to assess biomass levels, forest cover, and vegetation density. Observed at multiple points in time, it is used to establish an average trajectory reflecting vegetation dynamics.
When the sequestration curve of the project plots exceeds that of the control plots, the additional sequestration can be attributed to carbon finance.

This analysis is updated every five years, in line with the verification cycles required under VM0047, in order to ensure that the benchmark remains aligned with actual field conditions and accurately reflects project performance over time.

## A Response to Market Expectations

The approach developed by Reforest’Action to apply the performance benchmark under VM0047 directly contributes to strengthening the environmental and methodological integrity of certified projects. By relying on a robust biophysical proxy and regular updates, this method provides essential safeguards for the high integrity of the carbon credits generated through our projects.

### Reducing Uncertainty and Ensuring Transparency

Defining a donor area and control plots anchors the benchmark in a real, rather than theoretical, representation of vegetation evolution in the absence of a project. This approach offers two key advantages: it avoids biases associated with models or economic assumptions that often underpin ex ante additionality analyses, and it provides a dynamic baseline based on vegetation trajectories observed through remote sensing, thereby reducing scientific and methodological uncertainty. Reforest’Action thus strengthens the credibility of reported sequestration and limits the risk of overestimation.

The use of the NDFI, an indicator derived from spectral unmixing, ensures a standardized measurement of biomass and vegetation density. This tool offers several key benefits for carbon integrity:
- it relies on satellite data that are accessible, traceable, and verifiable;
- it enables continuous and consistent measurement of project performance;
- it enhances objectivity by removing reliance on declarative or subjective interpretations.

The use of a stable and recognized spectral proxy increases the transparency of the MRV (Monitoring, Reporting & Verification) process and facilitates the reproducibility of results by third-party auditors.

### Demonstrating the Impact of Carbon Finance

By comparing the sequestration curves of project plots with those of control plots, it becomes possible to demonstrate in a tangible way that the project’s sequestration trajectory exceeds the natural dynamics of local vegetation, and that this additional performance is directly attributable to carbon finance. This makes it possible to move from presumed additionality—typical of ex ante projection approaches—to additionality demonstrated through observed data. This distinction is critical for strengthening the credibility of carbon credits in the eyes of companies and investors.

### Integrating Environmental and Socio-Economic Changes

Updating the benchmark every five years, in line with the Verra standard’s verification cycles, ensures that the assessment remains aligned with real-world conditions. This periodic update prevents outdated or non-representative trajectories from continuing to serve as references, allows for the integration of changes in climate, land use, and management practices, and enhances the accuracy of sequestration estimates over the full life of the project. The benchmark is therefore not static; it is adaptive, which increases the robustness of the MRV framework and limits the risk of cumulative overestimation.

### Providing a Framework Aligned with Current Market Expectations

Reforest’Action’s approach fully addresses the growing expectations of the carbon market:
- environmental integrity, through real and verifiable measurements;
- comparability between projects, through a reproducible and standardized methodology;
- robust governance, through process auditing and transparency of the data used.

In a context where financial actors and companies require high levels of assurance before committing to sequestration projects, this approach represents a significant strategic advantage.


**Integrating the performance benchmark within VM0047-certified projects represents a key lever for ensuring their integrity and credibility. By mobilizing an approach based on the observation of vegetation trajectories and the regular updating of data, Reforest’Action enhances the precision of sequestration monitoring and demonstrates in a tangible manner the additional impact of carbon finance. This methodological rigor, supported by the use of a spectral proxy and dynamic control plots, is fully aligned with the evolution of international standards and responds to the growing expectations of economic actors engaged in the climate transition.**

**In a market where trust is built on the ability to measure, verify, and compare climate benefits, the approach developed by Reforest’Action provides a structured, transparent, and scientifically grounded framework. It also confirms the central role that remote sensing technologies can play in improving the quality of Nature-based Solutions, paving the way for safer, more ambitious, and truly transformative investments for ecosystems and the climate.**

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The Performance Benchmark in the Verra VM0047 Methodology: A Lever for Integrity in ARR Projects

**Biodiversity is both the foundation of ecosystem stability, the backbone of human economies, and an irreplaceable natural heritage. According to the [Global Risks Report 2024](https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/global-risk-report-2024-risks-are-growing-but-theres-hope/) published by the World Economic Forum, biodiversity loss ranks among the three most significant global risks facing society. In other words, the biodiversity crisis is now considered a major systemic threat, on par with climate-related extreme events and critical Earth system changes. Against the backdrop of escalating ecological urgency, chronic underfunding for nature protection, and growing expectations placed on businesses, a new international dynamic is emerging: the potential development of a market for so-called “nature credits”.** 

**For the past 15 years, Reforest’Action has been actively engaged in the restoration of forest ecosystems. In this context, the organisation has been appointed as a member of the European Commission’s Nature Credits Expert Group for the next five years. This strategic role reflects Reforest’Action’s commitment to supporting the development of a robust, credible and ambitious framework for these emerging biodiversity finance instruments. It also builds on the organisation’s ongoing engagement within the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB), which brings together scientific experts, public authorities and engaged organisations to define the principles and orientations required for the emergence of high-integrity biodiversity credit markets.**
 
## Biodiversity: Foundations, Ecosystem Services and a Heritage Under Pressure

Biodiversity refers to the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecosystems, as well as the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Beyond its intrinsic value, biodiversity provides humanity with a wide range of essential ecosystem services, which can be grouped into several categories:
- **Provisioning services:** food, freshwater, fibres, bio-based materials, and pharmaceutical resources.
- **Regulating services:** climate regulation, pollination, disease regulation, erosion control, water purification and natural hazard mitigation.
- **Cultural services:** well-being, cultural heritage, spirituality, recreation and tourism.
- **Supporting services:** nutrient cycling, soil formation and biological productivity.

Taken together, these services represent economic value amounting to thousands of billions of euros each year. Yet over the past half-century, biodiversity has been declining at an unprecedented rate, driven by land-use change, climate change, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources and the spread of invasive species. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), one million species are currently threatened with extinction. This trend disrupts ecological balances, amplifies systemic risks and undermines the very foundations of human development.

The financing needs required to halt and reverse this decline are substantial. The [Financing Nature](https://www.paulsoninstitute.org/conservation/financing-nature-report/) report published by the Paulson Institute (2020) estimates an annual biodiversity financing gap of between USD 722 and 967 billion to achieve global biodiversity objectives. It is within this context of structural underinvestment that new mechanisms aimed at mobilising private finance for nature protection and ecosystem restoration are gaining momentum.
 
## The Emergence of Nature Credits: A Dynamic Shaped by the Global Biodiversity Agenda

The concept of a “nature credits” market has emerged in the wake of recent international biodiversity negotiations, particularly the fifteenth and sixteenth Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Convention on Biological Diversity: COP15 held in Montreal (Canada) in 2022, and COP16 held in Cali (Colombia) in 2024.

COP15 culminated in the adoption of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets out several headline targets: protecting 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas globally by 2030; restoring at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by the same date; and mobilising a minimum of USD 200 billion per year from all public and private sources combined. The international community also underscored the critical role of businesses in delivering this agenda, notably through enhanced transparency, reporting and investment mechanisms.

Against this backdrop, the notion of “nature credits” (or “biodiversity certificates”) has gained increasing visibility. These instruments aim to certify measurable biodiversity benefits generated through conservation or restoration activities and to enable their potential acquisition by companies or investors seeking to contribute to nature protection under clearly defined and regulated standards.
 
## A Landscape Still Taking Shape

Several initiatives have emerged globally, each offering a distinct approach to the development of biodiversity-related financial instruments.

### The European Commission’s Initiative

In July 2025, the European Commission confirmed its intention to explore the creation of a market for nature credits. The mandate entrusted to its newly established Nature Credits Expert Group — of which Reforest’Action is a member for a five-year term — focuses on defining the methodological, scientific and operational foundations required for such a market to emerge. These include:
- the types of eligible activities,
- measurement, monitoring and verification requirements,
- environmental and social integrity criteria,
- market governance and operating rules,
- and interactions with existing European policies (biodiversity, climate, agriculture and sustainable finance).
The overarching objective is to ensure that any future market-based instrument meets the highest scientific standards and delivers genuine benefits for nature.

### The International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB)

The International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (IAPB) plays a key structuring role in shaping the future global market for biodiversity credits. Established to support the emergence of high-integrity mechanisms, the IAPB brings together scientific experts, public institutions, civil society organisations and economic actors to define guiding principles, methodological frameworks and quality criteria for credible and transparent biodiversity credits. Its Framework for High-Integrity Biodiversity Credit Markets provides essential reference points to clarify use cases, measurement requirements and safeguards needed to ensure that voluntary biodiversity credit markets align with international conservation priorities.

### The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS)

Founded by Botanic Gardens Conservation International and introduced in 2022, the Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) recognises and promotes the protection, restoration and enhancement of biodiversity. In a context marked by the growing number of forest and agroforestry ecosystem restoration projects, the standard seeks to promote best practices that generate positive biodiversity outcomes, notably through species diversification and the integration of native species into project design. Over the long term, TGBS aims to place biodiversity at the heart of initiatives that contribute both to climate change mitigation and to the improvement of local livelihoods.
In addition to its role as an impact management expert, Reforest’Action officially represents the European hub of the Global Biodiversity Standard, with the objective of scaling this certification framework across Europe. While TGBS does not constitute a biodiversity credit market as such, it provides a robust methodological foundation that may inform future international standards.

### The Organization for Biodiversity Certificates (OBC)

Adopting a more operational approach, other initiatives are seeking to design concrete certification systems that recognise biodiversity gains. This is the case of the Organization for Biodiversity Certificates (OBC), launched in 2022 and co-founded by aDryada, Le Printemps des Terres, Carbone 4 and the French National Museum of Natural History. The OBC brings together companies, NGOs and scientific experts around a shared objective: developing a biodiversity certificate system capable of assessing, valuing and formally recognising local biodiversity gains generated by conservation and restoration actions. To this end, it leads an applied research programme aimed at defining technical protocols and operational rules that ensure the credibility of these certificates, drawing on rigorous scientific approaches and field-based experimentation.
 
## Biodiversity Credits and Carbon Credits: Two Distinct Logics

While the concept of nature credits may echo the model of carbon credits, fundamental differences exist between the two mechanisms.

### Ecological Scale and Complexity
Carbon is a homogeneous, physicochemical unit that can be measured consistently across contexts. Biodiversity, by contrast, is multidimensional, encompassing species richness, abundance, habitat condition, ecological interactions and ecosystem functions. This inherent complexity requires multiple indicators tailored to specific biogeographical contexts and makes universal equivalence particularly challenging.

### Distinct Objectives
Carbon credits, whether issued under compliance or voluntary schemes, aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance carbon sequestration, encouraging companies to decarbonise their operations or invest in mitigation projects. Biodiversity credits, on the other hand, primarily seek to improve ecosystem health: restoring natural habitats, strengthening resilience, protecting threatened species and reconnecting ecological corridors.
While both mechanisms contribute to collective efforts to address environmental degradation, they operate at different scales and rely on fundamentally different metrics.

### Corporate Use
A key distinction lies in their use by companies. Carbon credits are sometimes employed within corporate net-zero strategies, whereas future biodiversity credits are increasingly framed as instruments for delivering a net positive contribution to nature rather than as compensation mechanisms. Regulators and standard-setting bodies emphasise this distinction in order to mitigate greenwashing risks.
 
## Objectives and Expected Benefits of a Nature Credits Market

The emergence of a structured nature credits market serves several strategic objectives:
- **Mobilising private finance at scale**: Given the magnitude of the biodiversity financing gap, market-based mechanisms can complement public funding by directing private capital towards projects with measurable and credible impacts.
- **Accelerating ecosystem restoration**: By assigning economic value to ecosystem regeneration, nature credits can support locally relevant projects, including rewilding, forest restoration, agroecology, wetland rehabilitation, ecological corridors and species conservation.
- **Enhancing transparency and scientific measurement**: Any credible market depends on robust methodologies. Harmonised measurement frameworks improve project quality, standardise practices and strengthen investor confidence.

For companies — which have a critical role to play in the ecological transition — a nature credits market could provide a concrete means to contribute to biodiversity objectives, support projects aligned with responsible investment expectations, anticipate future reporting requirements (TNFD, CSRD), and reinforce sustainability positioning and communication.
For investors, certified frameworks offer access to projects characterised by transparent impact measurement, managed risk through independent verification, and social co-benefits anchored at the local level.
 
## Reforest’Action at the Heart of the Emerging European Framework

By joining the European Commission’s Nature Credits Expert Group, Reforest’Action has entered a select group of organisations tasked with informing European decision-making. This role offers several key opportunities:
- contributing to the definition of scientific and technical criteria underpinning the future framework,
- promoting a demanding vision of ecological restoration grounded in quality, durability and measurable impact,
- leveraging field experience gained through hundreds of projects across more than 40 countries,
- anticipating regulatory developments and supporting the emergence of a credible European nature credits market aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal.

For Reforest’Action, this appointment represents both recognition of its expertise and a responsibility: to advocate for an ambitious vision of ecosystem restoration and to ensure that future nature credits genuinely support a deep and lasting transformation of ecosystems.
 

**The creation of a nature credits market represents a major development in biodiversity finance. Although still in an exploratory phase, this dynamic responds to an urgent need: mobilising economic actors at scale to restore the living world. At the intersection of ecological science, sustainable finance and public policy, this emerging market will need to rest on high standards, rigorous methodologies and uncompromising transparency. By joining the European Commission’s expert group, Reforest’Action positions itself at the heart of this transformation and will actively contribute to the emergence of an international framework capable of delivering integrity, impact and ambition for biodiversity.**



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Nature Credits: A Strategic Market for Biodiversity Finance?

**On the island of Sumba in Indonesia, the landscapes still bear the marks of long-standing deforestation. Starting in the late 19th century, under Dutch colonial rule, local forests rich in sandalwood were heavily exploited and converted into farmland. Deforestation—occurring within a hilly landscape subject to a climate prone to droughts and extreme rainfall—led to erosion and soil degradation. Today, the island is composed of vast stretches of limestone savannas cut through by deep ravines, where sparse vegetation, mainly grasses, serves as pasture for cattle and horse herds. The project led by Reforest’Action in Sumba aims to reverse this ecosystem degradation. Currently undergoing certification by the international Verra (VCS) standard via methodology VM0047, the project seeks to combine carbon sequestration, food security, and the creation of sustainable value chains.**

![Sumba-web-3.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Sumba_web_3_eb44f5aae2.jpg)

## A Project Design Tailored to the Environmental and Social Context

### Restoring Degraded Lands and Agricultural Productivity

Developed by Reforest’Action in partnership with CIFOR-ICRAF (Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry) and two Indonesian NGOs, the project addresses two main challenges: on the one hand, restoring soil fertility on Sumba through the creation of forests on previously deforested land and the development of diversified agroforestry systems; and on the other hand, strengthening the food and economic security of local communities, currently weakened by declining agricultural productivity.

To achieve this, an integrated landscape management model will be deployed to enhance ecosystem sustainability and resilience through adaptive, inclusive, and integrative strategies. By combining 37 tree species—including 20 native species—and five planting models adapted to the environmental and social context of the villages, the project aims to sequester 6.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over 40 years while restoring key ecosystem functions such as water retention, erosion control, soil enrichment, and biodiversity preservation.

### A Project Design Serving Ecological and Economic Resilience

Within the project design, each model contributes to a balance between environmental restoration and economic value creation.

The project aims to:

- recreate productive forests, notably composed of timber species and sandalwood, on degraded lands far from inhabited areas, to enable sustainable long-term timber production;
- restore natural secondary forests on community lands to strengthen ecosystem services without timber exploitation.

The design also includes three agroforestry system models:

- integration of fruit and forest trees in multi-strata systems near villages, enhancing food production and short-term economic resilience;
- planting coffee fields under the shade of diverse trees to improve yields and quality thanks to vegetation cover that regulates temperature and humidity;
- development of alley-cropping systems that enrich conventionally cultivated fields by combining fruit and forest trees with annual crops.

While generating certified carbon credits, the project therefore supports local economic stability as well as measurable ecosystem and social impacts.

![Sumba-web-2.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Sumba_web_2_f43142aa0f.jpg)

## A Holistic Strategy Serving Ecological and Economic Resilience

### Embedding Sandalwood into a Sustainable Value Chain

Sandalwood (Santalum album) is an emblematic Indonesian species historically at the heart of Sumba’s economy. Overexploitation of this precious wood during the colonial period (from the late 19th century until Indonesia’s independence in 1945) drastically reduced natural populations, making sandalwood a species now classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.

The project aims to reintroduce sandalwood sustainably into local agricultural and forestry systems. This species is hemiparasitic—unable to absorb soil nutrients on its own—and requires a host plant to grow, which justifies its integration into mixed agroforestry systems.

Its reintroduction will help rebuild an exportable economic resource while ensuring its sustainable management through a plan regulating harvesting practices. Because heartwood, which contains the essential oil, forms only after 10 to 15 years of growth, optimal harvesting occurs from year 20 onward. A local governance mechanism will therefore be established to plan these cycles fairly, ensuring ecological sustainability of the resource and economic stability for beneficiary communities. As a native species, sandalwood will also help restore local biodiversity.

### Promoting Community Empowerment and Governance

The project’s success relies on the direct involvement of local communities in every phase—from preparation to planting activities, maintenance, and plot management.

The local team, already active in 25 partner villages, supports farmer groups in a collective implementation approach: each group, made up of around 30 households, works in a coordinated manner on the plots, supported by village facilitators who ensure compliance with technical protocols.

Community nurseries supply the project with seedlings, while a training program aims to strengthen the technical and organizational capacities of farmers involved in the project (nursery management, soil fertilization techniques, pest control, water management, tree pruning, financial management, participatory governance…).

A community forest management plan is developed jointly with local authorities, ensuring long-term ownership of the project.

Benefits from the sale of carbon credits will also be partially redistributed to cooperatives, farmer groups, and women’s associations under an equitable and transparent governance model.

### Developing Local and Sustainable Value Chains

The project includes an economic strategy to develop local value chains around products with high potential: sandalwood, cashew nuts, coffee, candlenuts, teak, and mahogany. Designed according to the principles of the circular bioeconomy, these sectors aim to create stable market opportunities and additional income for producers, while promoting local processing and commercialization of commodities and building community expertise.

This model supports inclusive growth and lays the groundwork for progressive economic independence for communities. Income diversification will strengthen household resilience and reduce reliance on subsistence crops. Women, in particular, will benefit from improved access to these opportunities through the development of small local businesses and women’s cooperatives.

### Embedding Gender Equality in Project Governance

Gender equality is a central pillar of the Sumba project. The project is designed for women—both in its conception, by intentionally involving them in consultations and contracts, and in its implementation, by taking into account their specific constraints.

Targeted training programs aim to strengthen women’s entrepreneurial, financial, and organizational skills. These programs will also emphasize leadership and public speaking to ensure that women’s contributions are fully recognized by the community. The project will engage male leaders to ensure broad community support while respecting traditional structures.

An inclusive recruitment policy further guarantees women’s participation in decision-making roles, especially within village committees and project governance structures.

By fostering women’s leadership, the project strengthens social sustainability within local governance while enhancing the economic performance of agricultural operations.

![Sumba-web-1.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Sumba_web_1_fd32dd8982.jpg)

**Designed to meet the high-integrity requirements of international carbon certification standards, particularly Verra (VCS), the Sumba project represents a high-impact investment opportunity for funders. It guarantees traceability and independent verification of emission reductions, additionality and permanence of sequestration activities, and alignment with ESG principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, and 15).**

**Over a 40-year period, it will enable the sequestration of 321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per hectare, totaling 6.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. Beyond its climate impact, the project will help restore natural ecosystems and island biodiversity, improve food security and rural incomes, and strengthen local capacities in sustainable natural resource management.**

**The Sumba project thus illustrates the ability of high-integrity carbon projects to generate multiple co-benefits beyond carbon sequestration. For investors, it represents an opportunity to engage in a measurable, verifiable approach aligned with international ESG standards. By supporting the project, financial partners contribute to ecosystem restoration, preservation of an emblematic tree species, and the construction of a resilient and inclusive rural economy. Interested in seizing this impact investment opportunity? [Contact us to discuss your needs!](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**


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Sumba: Investing in a Carbon Project with Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact

**The high-Andean restoration project led by Reforest’Action in Colombia illustrates the ability of Nature-based Solutions to generate measurable benefits for the climate, biodiversity, and local communities. Developed through a rigorous approach, the project is now undergoing independent verification by Bureau Veritas and certification by The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS). These recognitions attest to the project’s alignment with international carbon quantification standards (ISO 14064-3:2019) and biodiversity restoration standards, as well as with the requirements of major corporate regulatory and reporting frameworks (CSRD, SBTi, CDP). They strengthen the environmental credibility of the Nariño project and provide funders with an essential framework of transparency and accountability for their climate and sustainability strategies.** 

![Narino-2025-3.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Narino_2025_3_a3fc01ec66.png)

## Restoring the Páramos in Colombia: A Project Rich in Fundamental Benefits 

### The Need to Restore High-Andean Ecosystems

Located between 3,300 and 4,700 meters above sea level in the high plateaus of the Andes in Colombia, the Páramos are the world’s richest mountain ecosystems in floristic biodiversity. They are increasingly threatened by the conversion of land into pastures and agricultural plots, leading to a dramatic collapse of local biodiversity.

![Narino-2025-2.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Narino_2025_2_2c68086c22.png)

In the project area, the regeneration of the Páramos follows a demanding design aimed at restoring biodiversity through the integration of 76 different native species, prioritizing access to water, and ensuring the long-term economic stability of local producers.
Launched in 2021, the project—developed by Reforest’Action and implemented on the ground by a local NGO—consists of five models that generate fundamental benefits for the climate, biodiversity, the soil–water system, and local communities:
- A Páramo restoration model  
- A riparian forest restoration model  
- A watershed reforestation model  
- An agroforestry model integrating trees around and within pastures  
- A living-hedge agroforestry model creating hedgerows around grazing areas

### Carbon Sequestration

The Páramo restoration activities directly contribute to increasing the carbon stored in these ecosystems. Reforestation of riverbanks to prevent soil erosion and provide habitat for local fauna, creation of forest islands through watershed reforestation, and restoration of high-Andean forests at the borders of the Páramos—all play a key role in climate mitigation by creating carbon sequestration compartments in both trees and soils.

### Water Resource Preservation

The peat soils of the Páramos retain water and supply up to 60% of Colombia’s water resources through downstream valleys. Their degradation has led to increasingly frequent shortages, especially in the department of Nariño. Field audits and testimonies from project beneficiaries indicate that water flow in irrigation channels (acequias) has improved since restoration actions began—restoring long-awaited water reserves previously compromised by deforestation.
 
### Silvopastoralism and Ecosystem Services

Agroforestry and silvopastoralism are integral to the project’s design and its goals of preserving the Páramos while maintaining sustainable economic activities for local communities.

By creating dense hedgerows composed of diverse native species around pastures and agricultural plots, these practices support animal well-being—offering cattle shade from intense sunlight, protection from cold winds, and increasing milk production (+13% to +25% per cow).

They also provide a wide array of ecosystem services: forage and timber production, natural soil fertilization, biodiversity restoration, improved livelihoods, medicinal and melliferous plants, and ecological corridors that connect habitats for numerous species.

### Inclusion of Local Communities and Socioeconomic Benefits

Alongside environmental actions, the project benefits 570 people from local communities and the Pastos Indigenous people—including 140 cattle farmers—through the development of income-generating activities (community beekeeping, medicinal plant processing…).

A broad awareness and training program has also reached 1,296 people (843 women and 437 men), promoting the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the region.

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## Carbon Projection Verification by Bureau Veritas

### Why Model the Carbon Sequestration of a Project?

Since 2023, Reforest’Action has relied on a method and simulator for ex-ante carbon sequestration modeling (before the sequestration actually occurs) to estimate the carbon storage potential of projects over 30 years. This projection helps optimize project design to maximize climate impact.

The method and tool were validated by Bureau Veritas Certification in October 2023. They comply with key voluntary carbon market criteria, based on international standards also required under Article 147 of the French Climate and Resilience Law. Bureau Veritas is authorized to verify ex-ante calculations produced by the Reforest’Action simulator, providing third-party credibility.

Using field and remote-sensing data, a post-implementation audit (minimum 5 years after planting) will verify that actual sequestration aligns with initial estimates. This ex-post evaluation is also conducted by Bureau Veritas.

### The Nariño Project: A Verified Carbon Projection

In autumn 2025, Bureau Veritas verified the 30-year carbon sequestration projection for the Nariño project.

The audit verified:
- **Quantification**: Carbon is quantified using a tool verified by Bureau Veritas in 2023, in accordance with ISO 14064-3:2019.  
- **Additionality**: Sequestration would not occur without the project, confirmed through comparison with a baseline scenario.  
- **Permanence**: A risk mitigation plan and a 20% buffer ensure long-term carbon storage.  
- **Verifiability**: Data transparency is guaranteed.  
- **Sustainability**: A multifunctional design maximizes environmental and socioeconomic benefits.  
- **Uniqueness**: The project is recorded in an internal registry ensuring traceability.

The audit confirmed the initial projection of 36,000 tCO₂ sequestered over 30 years for two planting seasons (2022–2024).

After five years, an independent third-party audit will verify on-the-ground implementation, ecosystem health, and project durability.

### What Is the Benefit for Project Funders?

Parce que les actions de séquestration carbone ne se limitent pas à l’achat de crédits sur le marché volontaire, les Solutions fondées sur la Nature dont les actions génèrent des séquestrations additionnelles peuvent être comptabilisées dans la contribution au pilier C de la Net Zero Initiative, à condition que leur impact puisse être quantifié via des méthodes robustes.

**With a 30-year carbon projection validated by Bureau Veritas, an independent audit planned at 5 years, and co-benefits for biodiversity and communities, the Nariño project fully meets transparency and ESG reporting needs (CSRD, SBTi, CDP…) within voluntary climate contribution strategies.**

![Narino-2025-4.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Narino_2025_4_7e075db785.jpg)

## Biodiversity Impact Certification by The Global Biodiversity Standard

### Why Certify a Biodiversity Restoration Project?

High-quality forest and agroforestry projects generate strong co-benefits for biodiversity, climate, soil health, water resources, and local communities. The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) is currently the most robust international standard assessing biodiversity and ecosystem integrity improvements. Certification ensures that biodiversity considerations are fully integrated into ecosystem restoration projects.

### L’exemple du projet Nariño : un projet à l’impact biodiversité certifié

In early 2025, a “pilot” area of the Nariño project entered the TGBS certification process—first through remote analysis using satellite tools, then through an on-site audit conducted by a certified auditor and three local or partner experts (specialized in fauna, flora, and socioeconomic impact).

Assessment included:
- Measurement of biodiversity changes using the Ecological Regeneration Wheel (Society for Ecological Restoration).  
- Evaluation of adaptive management measures (UN Decade standards).  
- Assessment of protection levels (aligned with IUCN categories).  
- Evaluation of socioeconomic impacts (SER Social Benefits Wheel).

The pilot area received a score of 6.84/10 (with the certification threshold at 5), earning TGBS certification in January 2025. The full project area will be eligible for certification after 5 years of activity.

### What Is the Benefit for Project Funders?

Healthy ecosystems help mitigate climate change and enable human societies to adapt to its consequences. TGBS certification is not an end in itself but a means to restore ecosystems. It is only awarded to projects that bring about a real improvement in the ecosystem compared to its initial state, and not just to initiatives that have an impact on biodiversity.
 
In this regard, it is fully in line with Reforest'Action's mission to ensure, through its impact management process, that projects contribute to the stability and sustainability of restored forest and agroforestry ecosystems.

**Under The Global Biodiversity Standard, the Nariño project strengthens funders’ credibility, demonstrates genuine biodiversity commitment, and provides a competitive environmental responsibility advantage.**

![Narino-2025-6.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Narino_2025_6_dea07c7da0.jpg)

**By combining a carbon modeling approach validated by Bureau Veritas with TGBS biodiversity certification, the Nariño project stands out as a model of rigor and integrity in ecological restoration. It demonstrates Reforest’Action’s ability to design and manage projects grounded in verifiable data, integrating multiple benefits for the climate, ecosystems, and local communities. For companies committed to Net Zero pathways, supporting the Nariño project represents a strategic opportunity: contributing to a project aligned with international frameworks means investing in measurable, long-lasting climate action and taking part in an exemplary voluntary carbon-contribution strategy. Continuing the restoration of the Páramos now requires new funding to reinforce the positive impacts already demonstrated. [Contact us!](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**



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Colombia: a project verified by Bureau Veritas and certified by The Global Biodiversity Standard

**In West Africa, where the agricultural sector provides income for nearly 60% of the working population, 90% of the calories consumed are produced locally. The health, diversity, and sustainability of agricultural systems are therefore of
crucial importance, both for the food security of local communities and for the generation of equitable incomes.** 

**How can we enable farming communities to strengthen their resilience, gain autonomy, and adapt to climate change, which directly impacts their food crops and cash crops such as cocoa, cashews, and coffee? Concrete solutions are being developed through agroforestry projects such as [Avé Ga in Togo](https://info.reforestaction.com/ave-ga-narrative-report), designed to restore 15,750 hectares of land and sequester 6.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent.**

**As Senior Carbon Manager, Pauline Vialatte is responsible for developing carbon sequestration projects at Reforest'Action. From design to coordination of activities and impact monitoring, her engineering expertise is being put to good use in the Avé Ga project, which is currently in the process of being certified by the Verra international carbon standard. Read her interview.**

![Ave-Ga-ReforestAction-3.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ave_Ga_Reforest_Action_3_f7ddbaa31e.png)

### What expertise does Reforest’Action have in developing projects certified by international carbon standards? 

**Pauline Vialatte** : As a developer of high-integrity projects certified by international carbon standards, Reforest’Action oversees the entire process of developing and certifying projects such as Avé Ga in Togo. We are also responsible for selling the carbon credits generated by the project to companies that are required, under the SBTi Net Zero Standard, to reduce their emissions by at least 90% by 2050, or to natural capital investment funds. There is therefore close synergy between our engineering activities in the field, our experience in seeking financing and providing tailored support to investors, and our financial and legal expertise in the service of robust governance.

### What internal skills are being mobilised for the development of the Avé Ga project in particular?

**Pauline Vialatte** : As part of the Avé Ga project, we are providing specific expertise in the areas of carbon, finance, and legal matters in order to address both the needs of investors and the requirements of carbon certification, while ensuring that the project guarantees a high level of environmental and social integrity. This includes co-designing the project with the field-based Project Implementer, eligibility and additionality analysis and ex-ante carbon sequestration modeling, the development of a robust business model, and ensuring that the project complies with the certification framework. 

We also deploy all our operational expertise gained from more than 15 years of experience in developing and monitoring reforestation and agroforestry projects, from supervising all project activities in the field to steering and adaptively managing the project's operational and financial performance through close monitoring with the Project Implementer and a reporting framework established at the start of the project.

In short, Reforest’Action’s expertise enables the financers of the Avé Ga project to secure their investments, reduce risks and strengthen their impact on the climate, biodiversity and local communities through a nature-based, high-integrity carbon sequestration project.

[![BanniereCTATOGOEN.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Banniere_CTATOGOEN_5e9289e56f.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/ave-ga-narrative-report)

### How does the project generate fundamental benefits for ecosystems and local communities? 

**Pauline Vialatte** : The Avé Ga project aims to restore ecosystems by reversing land degradation, diversifying tree species and improving environmental conditions through the deployment of five different planting models. The fundamental benefits of the project include mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration in biomass and soil, as well as restoring biodiversity, in particular by promoting four tree species classified as threatened by the IUCN. Avé Ga also supports sustainable agricultural practices, helps to strengthen food security in communities, diversify agricultural production and improve access to markets. Training and awareness-raising activities for communities will improve their technical knowledge, while encouraging their participation in decision-making through inclusive development and the creation of sustainable jobs.

![Ave-Ga-ReforestAction-7.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ave_Ga_Reforest_Action_7_88c0390d68.png)

### How does the project enable additional carbon sequestration?

**Pauline Vialatte** : Additionality is an essential factor that ensures that CO2 absorption would not occur without the implementation of the project. The criteria for demonstrating additionality require proof that the funds obtained are essential to the viability of the project. In the case of Avé Ga, project activities are carried out on land dedicated to agricultural production, which in the project area commonly involves slash-and-burn farming. In their initial state, the plots are therefore subject to cycles of degradation, making natural vegetation regeneration impossible, with a baseline scenario where the average carbon stock is very low. The development of agroforestry as part of the project will thus enable additional carbon sequestration compared to maintaining conventional agriculture.

![Ave-Ga-ReforestAction-8.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ave_Ga_Reforest_Action_8_1adbde5820.png)

### How does the project meet the requirements for transparency and traceability?

**Pauline Vialatte** : Transparency is essential to guarantee the integrity of the project. As part of the Avé Ga project, all carbon sequestration modelling assumptions and all financial modelling are shared with investors. Similarly, the reporting framework (relevant indicators, frequency) is developed jointly with them. At the same time, we require monthly financial and operational reporting from the Project Implementer throughout the deployment phase of the activities. In addition, the demonstration of the impacts generated by the project, made available to the auditor and the certification standard, includes complete traceability of the raw data collected in the field up to the aggregated results, thus enabling their verification.

### How will the impacts generated by the project be monitored and measured?

**Pauline Vialatte** : Project monitoring involves both operational monitoring, to ensure the effectiveness of field operations, and impact monitoring, to ensure that the objectives set for the selected fundamental benefits are achieved, in accordance with the CCB (Climate, Community & Biodiversity) standard framework. The project monitoring plan is therefore based on various indicators, each of which is defined with units, methods, quality control processes, references, objectives and monitoring frequency, in accordance with the requirements of the VM0047 methodology and the ABACUS label. A preliminary monitoring plan was drawn up during the feasibility study and will be refined during the project preparation phase. Carbon sequestration will be measured using remote sensing, field inventories of biomass and soil organic carbon, as prescribed by the VM0047 methodology, and the collection and laboratory analysis of statistically representative soil samples.

![Ave-Ga-ReforestAction-1.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ave_Ga_Reforest_Action_1_81736240a2.png)

### What strategy is in place to mitigate the specific risks associated with the field?

**Pauline Vialatte** : It is essential to analyse and understand the risks (natural risks, internal risks related to the implementation of project activities, risks related to the organisations implementing the project, risks related to high conservation values*, etc.), as these factors directly influence the sustainability of the project, the achievement of the expected impacts and the return on investment. To this end, Reforest’Action has developed a step-by-step risk management process, which is applied in parallel with project development. This process includes conducting due diligence during the project study phases and developing a risk management plan during the project preparation phase, which will be implemented and updated throughout the 40 years of project implementation.

### How can the project’s permanence be maximised?

**Pauline Vialatte** : The Avé Ga project has a carbon credit issuance period of 36 years and a lifespan of 40 years, which corresponds to the duration of the agreements concluded with landowners. Monitoring covers the 36-year credit generation period, plus 7 years of permanence monitoring by remote sensing. However, the project aims for long-term permanence, well beyond 40 years, by sustainably transforming traditional slash-and-burn agricultural practices into forestry and agroforestry systems. This objective will be achieved through training (in agroforestry techniques and farmer-managed natural regeneration) and the empowerment of local communities so that they can, in the medium term, take ownership of the project and ensure its permanence by benefiting from socio-economic advantages, such as the creation and development of agricultural cooperatives, which will help to anchor the project sustainably in the local economy.

![Ave-Ga-ReforestAction-6.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Ave_Ga_Reforest_Action_6_882e0b01a5.png)

### How does the Avé Ga project meet all the criteria for a high integrity nature-based carbon sequestration project?

**Pauline Vialatte** : Avé Ga is a high-integrity carbon sequestration project in that it aims not only to create carbon sinks, but also to maximise environmental and socio-economic impacts on local communities. Through a robust, sustainable design adapted to local challenges and a proactive management process for unavoidable variables, Avé Ga meets the highest quality standards in terms of climate, biodiversity and community inclusion. The multifunctional project is able to support its investors’ climate strategy while contributing to the quality and reliability of the voluntary carbon market through transparency, traceability, inclusive decision-making and equitable value distribution. 

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Togo: our expertise at the service of a high-integrity carbon project

**Reforest'Action's expertise in developing projects certified by international carbon standards is based on a dedicated team with complementary skills, specialized know-how and specific experience in each field.** 

**A close synergy is at work between our engineering skills in the field, our experience in raising financing and providing tailor-made support for investors, and our financial and legal expertise in the service of robust governance. In this way, we collectively ensure that our nature-based carbon sequestration projects meet the most stringent integrity criteria, to support both the needs of investors and the requirements of carbon certification.** 

**Meet 5 of the key profiles who make up this combined expertise, and who contribute to making Reforest'Action one of the most recognized and reliable players in the voluntary carbon market today.**


## Developing sequestration projects while maximizing fundamental benefits

### Sabrina, Senior Carbon Project Manager

High-integrity carbon sequestration projects aim not only to create carbon sinks, but also to maximize environmental and socio-economic impacts on local communities, while identifying potential risks associated with each project and ensuring their mitigation.

As Senior Carbon Project Manager, Sabrina is responsible for developing carbon sequestration projects, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia. From the origination of potential projects to their design, coordination, monitoring, and mitigation of related risks, her engineering expertise is used to develop projects with a robust, sustainable design that is adapted to local issues.
 
One of the key aspects of her role is finding trusted partners in the field and establishing close, long-lasting working relationships between Reforest'Action and local project implementers, which is essential for developing high-integrity projects. Thanks to her experience in designing agroforestry and reforestation projects in tropical areas, Sabrina brings a more global vision to the teams in the field, which maximizes the fundamental social and environmental benefits generated by the projects, aligns their design with the various certification standards, fine-tunes project objectives to take into account investor expectations, and ensures financial balance through ongoing budget management.

Because project monitoring is essential, Sabrina also co-develops and oversees monitoring plans in collaboration with project implementers. This monitoring involves both operational monitoring, to ensure the effectiveness of operations in the field, and impact monitoring, to ensure that the objectives set for the selected fundamental benefits are achieved, particularly within the four pillars of impact defined by Reforest'Action: climate, biodiversity, soil and water systems, and the socio-economic sphere. The underlying objective of this initial monitoring is to enable local communities, in the medium term, to take ownership of the project and benefit from the establishment of sustainable governance, as well as a system for the equitable distribution of monetary and non-monetary benefits among the project's stakeholders (benefit sharing).

Sabrina is also responsible for the entire certification process for the projects she develops. Her ongoing monitoring of market conditions, major international agreements and the position of governments on the regulatory framework for the carbon market is complemented by her in-depth knowledge of standards, methodologies, eligibility criteria and additionality, which enables her to save time and target the right carbon certification framework in line with investors' needs from the project feasibility study stage.

![Sabrina-Giorgi.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Sabrina_Giorgi_b21702ac75.jpg)

## Maintain in-depth knowledge of the field to optimize permanence
 

### Hugo, Remote sensing & GIS Analyst

Maximizing project permanence is a crucial issue in large-scale ecosystem restoration. It is essential to analyze and understand the specific challenges and risks of the project area, as these factors directly influence the sustainability of the activities implemented, the achievement of the expected impacts, and the return on financial investments. 

As a remote sensing and geomatics (GIS) analyst, Hugo carries out continuous analyses of the project area and the local context prior to the development of each project, as well as during their implementation and long-term monitoring phase.

He creates various maps that enable him to acquire and maintain in-depth knowledge of the landscape matrix and the challenges of the project area, using remote sensing data: biome maps, administrative maps, forest cover connectivity maps, land use maps, vegetation indices, biomass density indices, etc.
 
Hugo also conducts geospatial analyses to demonstrate the absence of risks (deforestation, fires, floods, etc.) in the project area, or to study potential risks in order to better mitigate them as part of a mitigation plan. All of this remote sensing and geomatics work is therefore crucial to contextualize the project, understand the specific challenges of its ecosystem type, and optimize the permanence of the restored ecosystems.
 
Hugo's expertise is also applied to the regular monitoring of the project's control plots, on which the reference scenario is based, in order to take into account their natural evolution over time. This benchmark performance protocol thus ensures a dynamic, rather than static, reference scenario, in line with the new VM 0047 certification methodology of the Verra standard. Regular updating of the baseline, compared to the project scenario, allows for greater rigor and accuracy in assessing the impacts generated by the project, and thus constitutes a valuable tool for project design and monitoring, increasing the effectiveness of our activities and providing even greater transparency to investors in terms of results.

![Hugo-Treuil-Dussouet-2.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Hugo_Treuil_Dussouet_2_c4cbfb3ed3.jpg)

## Supporting investors in securing high-integrity carbon credits

### Flora, Senior Carbon Sales Advisor

Nature-based solutions account for one-third of the mitigation efforts needed to combat climate change. Investing in nature-based sequestration projects, which offer multiple co-benefits, allows companies and other types of financial actors to diversify their investment strategies while strengthening the quality and credibility of their climate claims and addressing urgent environmental and social challenges.

As such, Flora, as Senior Carbon Sales Advisor, works with companies that are required, under the SBTi's Net Zero Standard, to reduce their emissions by at least 90% by 2050, as well as natural capital investment funds that bring together various investors who have committed funds to finance sequestration projects and purchase carbon credits (Carbon Dioxide Removal - CDR).

Flora supports investors throughout the process of selecting and financing a certified project – understanding the client's needs, formulating legal, technical and financial proposals tailored to those needs in a co-construction approach, managing the technical, legal and financial due diligence processes in conjunction with Reforest'Action's in-house teams of experts, and more. All of these challenges are addressed by its in-depth knowledge of the voluntary carbon market and high-integrity carbon sequestration criteria. Flora thus builds a relationship of trust with investors and works directly with them on various aspects of project design to enable them to align it with their ESG objectives.

It also guides companies in anticipating their climate strategy and securing the credits they will need in the medium term to generate multiple environmental and social impacts and meet the expectations of their stakeholders and consumers, both within and outside their value chains.

![Flora-Calandre.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Flora_Calandre_49edbe2979.jpg)

## Implementing robust governance to ensure transparency, fairness, and traceability

### Louis, Carbon Finance Manager

For climate action to meet market quality requirements, it is essential that all stakeholders align on principles of transparency, traceability, equitable value distribution, and inclusive decision-making. 

Louis, Carbon Finance Manager at Reforest'Action, has responsibilities in several areas of financial expertise. From the project structuring phase, he supports the operational teams in developing a 30-year business plan, which he then monitors financially throughout the project's lifetime by maintaining a solid three-way relationship between Reforest'Action, the investor, and the project implementer in the field. 

Louis also supports the commercial development of projects based on demand and market conditions. From calculating key performance indicators (KPIs) to due diligence processes during the pre-financing phase of a project, his expertise ensures the transparency and traceability of the data collected. At the same time, he works closely with the legal department to support the financial structuring of the project and the drafting of financing agreements.
 
Louis' financial expertise is also essential in designing and proposing innovative investment models, whether to enable investors to secure carbon credits ex-ante through forward purchase agreements (offtake), to directly finance a nature-based carbon sequestration project, or to spread risk through a diversified portfolio strategy.

Because high-integrity project governance requires clear and accessible reporting on cost allocation and benefit distribution, Louis also helps develop optimal transparency in project auditing and financial reporting to investors throughout the project lifecycle.

![Louis-Carre.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Louis_Carre_6ef06c8112.jpg)

### Valentin, Head of Legal & Risks Management

Working closely with Reforest'Action's operational, commercial, and financial departments, Valentin holds the key position of Head of Legal & Risk Management, thanks to the legal expertise he has acquired throughout his career in audit firms and financial institutions.

One of the main pillars of his role is to ensure compliance with the highest standards, as required by investors throughout their supply chain (combating illegal labor and child labor, money laundering and terrorist financing, fraud and corruption, etc.). He provides training to Reforest'Action teams and develops all compliance procedures for our stakeholders. Valentin also contributes to the ongoing mapping of risks identified for each project and to the development of mitigation plans.

On the legal front, Valentin handles all customized contract coordination with investors and Reforest'Action's various stakeholders, and oversees the creation of local legal structures, where necessary, to ensure the proper receipt of carbon credits and close monitoring of projects in the field. He thus ensures the legal security of the services required by our investors.

![Valentin-Thomas.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Valentin_Thomas_345142a877.jpg)

**By choosing to work with Sabrina, Hugo, Flora, Louis, Valentin, and the entire Reforest'Action team, you are choosing to secure your investments, reduce risk, and strengthen your impact on the climate, biodiversity, and local communities through nature-based, high-integrity carbon sequestration projects. Reforest'Action offers a diversified portfolio of projects that can be tailored to multiple investment models to best fit your climate strategy. [Contact one of our experts to discuss your needs.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**


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Our combined expertise at the service of climate solutions: 5 key profiles

The urgency to act is greater than ever. We are already feeling the devastating effects of a warming planet, with record temperatures, extreme weather events, and rising sea levels. While climate finance remains far below the estimated USD 7.4 trillion required on average each year through 2030* to stay within the 1.5°C pathway, the call to strengthen corporate ambitions has never been more critical.

_*Source: Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), 2023_

[![Climate solutions Overview 2_schema1.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Climate_solutions_Overview_2_schema1_7720ff97d1.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

As regulatory pressure intensifies and expectations for corporate climate accountability rise, the Voluntary Carbon Market is approaching a growing imbalance: rising demand is outpacing the supply of high-quality credits. This is especially true for credits originating from nature-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects. Such market dynamics should encourage organization worldwide to accelerate progress on their climate goals by securing high-quality removal credits. 

**Is your company ready to develop a future-proof carbon offset strategy that harnesses the full potential of Nature-based Solutions? Below are three compelling reasons to start planning now.**

## REASON #1 Corporate ESG commitments are tightening, deadlines are approaching

### Fitting CDR carbon credits into your compliance strategy 

Regulatory frameworks are becoming stricter, evolving toward greater clarity and usability, and pushing businesses to evaluate their environmental and social impact across the entire value chain. But reducing emissions across operations presents a complex challenge, particularly for carbon-intensive industries where low-emission technologies may still be inaccessible or cost-prohibitive. That is why carbon finance, and the Voluntary Carbon Market, are valuable tools within a company’s broader climate strategy. While not a substitute for rapid decarbonization, Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) offers an effective way to offset unavoidable emissions and meet regulatory compliance. 

### Keeping pace with net zero targets

One of the clearest examples of mitigation pressure is the SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard, which requires companies to cut emissions by at least 90% by 2050. Since 2022, more than 1,100 business have had their commitments verified according to the standard of the Science Based targets Initiative. With 2030 approaching, businesses can use the SBTi’s Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) guidance to build CDR strategies now. BVCM encourages investment in carbon removal and reduction outside the value chain as a meaningful interim step to protect carbon sinks and advance global climate goals.

SBTi research (2023) found BVCM to be the top reason companies purchase and retire carbon credits. As it works on the next version of its Net-Zero Standard, the SBTi is also assessing the role of carbon credits and other environmental attributes in tracking progress or exceeding core targets.

## REASON #2 Demand for high-quality carbon credits will surge, supply won’t keep up 

### Preparing for rising demand and prices

The Voluntary Carbon Market is rapidly evolving as it scales, with standards and projects being financed continuously improving. This progress reflects a healthy, growing market. Experts predict that supply from high-integrity carbon projects will remain constrained until investments scale up to support new projects. On the contrary, as we approach 2030, various factors indicate that demand for high-quality credits will surge. In short, global demand is expected to exceed supply, driving up prices and impacting availability.

[![Climate solutions Overview 2_schema3.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Climate_solutions_Overview_2_schema3_577cb79f92.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

**Key drivers of demand for high-quality CDR include:**

- **ESG pressure:** With over 6,000 companies now committed to science-based targets, and SBTi updates underway, demand for high-quality carbon removals will grow as firms seek to close emissions gaps ahead of 2030 and 2050.

- **CORSIA compliance scheme:** As the aviation compliance scheme CORSIA enters its mandatory phase in 2027, airlines must scale up credit purchases. Projected demand could exceed 100 million credits**, reinforcing the voluntary market.

- **Article 6.4 mechanism:** The Paris Agreement Crediting MECHANISM (PACM) will enable global trading of A6.4ERs, with carbon removals at its core, raising standards and driving volume in the voluntary market.

- **Financial market integration:** Carbon credits are being embedded into green bonds and structured finance, shifting them from speculative to strategic long-term assets and boosting market stability.

- **National policies:** Updated country NDCs*** will push companies toward carbon credit investments to stay ahead of national compliance risks. In parallel, Article 6.2, enabling credit trading between countries, will expand international demand.

_*Source: SBTi Monitoring Report 2023_
_**Source: Abatable’s Voluntary Carbon Market Developer Overview, 2023-2024 report_
_***NDC: Nationally Determined Contribution _

### Understanding key trends that shape the market

1. **Quality, the new imperative:** Buyers must prioritize high-quality carbon credits to ensure their investments remain credible and impactful. The trust gap has driven the rise of stricter quality benchmarks. As a matter of fact, the Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) led by the ICVCM* has begun approving carbon credit categories eligible for the CCP label, ensuring credits deliver real, additional, and verifiable impacts for the climate, biodiversity, and local communities. 

2. **New investment approaches:** Major companies like Microsoft and Meta have demonstrated new ways to engage in high-quality CDR projects with minimal operational risk. Given the limited availability of high-integrity credits on the spot market, offtake contracts have emerged as key indicators of demand for nature-based CDR. In 2024, 0.16 (million tons) high-durability credits were retired on the spot market, versus 6.4 Mt in pre-purchases and offtakes**. 

3. **A shift no NbS removals:** Removals are expected to grow faster than reduction credits, potentially accounting for two thirds of the Voluntary Carbon Market value by 2050***. Nature-based credits still dominate the current CDR supply, making up 98% of total CDR issued between 2022 and 2024. Symbiosis Coalition has become the first advance market commitment focused on nature-based CDR, highlighting the urgency of securing high-quality carbon removal credits now. 

_*ICVCM: Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market_
_**Source: Carbon Direct, 2024 State of the Voluntary Carbon Market_
_***Source: MSCI Carbon Markets' projections, Data as of Nov. 30, 2024_

## REASON #3 Not all removals are equal, nature-positive investments matter now 

### Scaling up investment to meet growing demand

[High-integrity NbS](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/what-are-nature-based-solutions) encompass a range of project types, such as Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR), Agroforestry, Improved Forest Management (IFM), Improved Agricultural Land Management (IALM), and Wetlands Restoration and Conservation (Blue Carbon). All together, they represent an emerging area of finance with the potential to provide up to a third of climate mitigation needs by 2030 (UNEP, 2023). 

[![Climate solutions Overview 2_schema4.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Climate_solutions_Overview_2_schema4_523401adaa.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

Far greater investment is needed to prevent a prolonged shortage, support corporate climate goals, and scale NbS removals to the billions of tons required for 1.5°C scenario alignment. By investing in nature-based carbon credit, which are ready to scale today, you can meet emerging compliance requirements, manage risk proactively, and position your company as a climate leader in the transition to net zero. 

### Highlighting the unique strengths of Nature-based Solutions 

High-integrity NbS offer key advantages over engineered carbon capture. They can support both mitigation and adaptation, while addressing multiple crises and delivering positive impacts on communities and ecosystems, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). NbS are ready to scale now, allowing for immediate action, and are relatively inexpensive compared to engineered carbon capture and storage methods. 

On the other side, over-reliance on engineered solutions can be costly and restrictive, making it essential to recognize the broader benefits of NbS. Direct Air Capture (DAC) demand high energy, potentially increasing carbon emissions, and may have negative ecological impacts before extensive research is conducted. Besides, carbon reductionism can become increasingly binding, limiting the long-term viability of most technical solutions. A market-driven approach that values the core benefits and structural strengths of NbS will help ensure a more balanced allocation of capital.

[![Previews investors' guide.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Previews_investors_guide_750726efad.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

**Are you interested in investing in a high-quality nature-based carbon removal project? [Download our investors’ guide](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en) to find out Why and how to build your offset strategy now with nature-based carbon removals.**

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3 reasons to plan your offset strategy today with nature-based carbon removals 

**Scaling up investment to meet growing demand**

The Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) is evolving rapidly as it scales. With ESG regulations tightening, Paris Agreement Article 6.4 mechanisms advancing, and CORSIA entering its first mandatory phase, 2025 marks a critical turning point. These developments signal growing confidence but also mounting pressure. Experts forecast that while [demand for high-integrity credits will rise sharply, supply will remain constrained](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/magazine/three-reasons-to-plan-your-offset-strategy-today) unless investments increase significantly to support project development. As we move toward 2030, global demand is expected to outstrip supply, pushing up prices and reducing availability, especially for high-quality credits, which already represent less than 10% of the market*. 

**Nature-based removals matter now**

Corporate buyers are increasingly prioritizing premium credits, and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are a key focus. Since 2018, nearly USD 11 billion has been committed to nature-based CDR*, with 60% going to forest-based projects. Major buyers like Microsoft and Meta have already secured large offtake agreements to meet their 2030 targets. This underlines confidence in NbS, but more investment is essential to scale solutions to the billions of tons required for 1.5°C alignment.

_*Source: Carbon Direct, 2024 State of the Voluntary carbon Market_

[![Climate solutions Overview 2_schema4.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Climate_solutions_Overview_2_schema4_523401adaa.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

**Investors must now recognize that waiting for perfect conditions means missing today’s opportunity to shape tomorrow’s solutions. Unlocking the full potential of nature-based CDR requires proactive, long-term financial and technical support across all phases of project development. Below are the key levers to invest without delay and lock in both the volume and price of your carbon credits.**

## LEVER #1 Pre-purchasing ex-ante carbon credits 

As demand for high-quality carbon projects accelerates, sustainability leaders must proactively manage future risks related to credit availability and pricing. At the same time, project developers require early financial support to launch and scale impactful initiatives while signaling market stability.

Offtake agreements are legally binding contracts in which buyers commit to purchasing a specified volume of carbon credits at a fixed price over a defined period. They emerging as strategic tools that serve both sides. Whether structured with or without prepayment - which can provide crucial early-stage funding for project development - these agreements align with long-term climate strategies. 

**Strategic advantages of offtake agreements:**

- **Securing quality and price stability:** Offtake agreements help manage supply and price risks, ensuring buyers secure high-quality, verifiable credits at competitive rates.

- **Mitigating operational risk:** Offtake agreements shield buyers from project risks. If the project fails to deliver the expected credits, the buyer pays nothing. 
 
- **Unlocking new supply:** By helping project developers attracting early-stage funding, offtake agreements accelerate the growth of high-quality carbon credit supply. 

## LEVER #2 Investing in a nature-based CDR project

Significant time and resources go into project selection and due diligence. An alternative is direct investment in carbon projects, funding their development from the outset. For example, a company seeking a large supply of high-quality NbS credits could invest in an early-stage reforestation project, financing its initial phases while securing all credits generated by the project in the future. 

**The value proposition of project investment:**

- **Securing exclusivity and priority:** For companies seeking large volumes of carbon credits, investing in a project can grant exclusive access to a guaranteed supply, often at a significantly lower price*.
 _*Compared to market forecasts for the coming years_
 
- **Influencing project development:** Investing in a project fosters a closer relationship with the project developer, allowing buyers to actively collaborate on project design while aligning it with their sustainability goals.
 
- **Creating added value and new revenue opportunities:** By securing carbon credits at a lower price, buyers may have the option to sell them later at a profit, or to use them to finance the monitoring phases of the project. This is referred to as self-financing. 

**Integrating direct investment and offtake agreements into the project development curve**

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## LEVER #3 Spreading risk through a portfolio-based carbon strategy

Diversifying a company’s carbon credit portfolio is a key strategy for managing risk. By spreading investments across multiple nature-based projects - varying in methodology, geography, carbon removal potential, and socio-environmental core benefits - companies can reduce exposure to risk while maximizing overall impact. Taking a long-term approach to portfolio construction allows companies to allocate funds strategically, while integrating the benefits of both offtake purchases and project investments.

[![Climate solutions Overview 2_schema8.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Climate_solutions_Overview_2_schema8_b401e4d450.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

In a rapidly evolving carbon market, businesses must anticipate and integrate carbon removals within their strategy from the outset. Waiting until emissions reductions alone are no longer sufficient can leave companies exposed to rising costs, regulatory pressure, and supply constraints. Besides, high-quality nature-based projects take years to develop, with many requiring 5–10 years before issuing credits. Delayed action increases the risk of limited access to premium carbon credits. 

**By building a forward-looking multi-year strategy and integrating offtakes agreements or project investments into their sustainability strategy, organizations can enhance long-term planning, budgeting accuracy, and potentially achieve significant cost savings on carbon removals.**

[![Previews investors' guide.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Previews_investors_guide_750726efad.jpg)](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en)

**Are you interested in investing in a high-quality nature-based carbon removal project? Download [our investors’ guide](https://info.reforestaction.com/guide-2-cs-social-media-en) to find out Why and how to build your offset strategy now with nature-based carbon removals.**



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How to invest smart and secure high-quality CDR at the right price?

**While [COP 16](https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2024/11/biodiversity-cop-16-important-agreement-reached-towards-goal-of-making-peace-with-nature-2/), held in Colombia in 2024, reiterated the need for monitoring, capacity building and the inclusive participation of indigenous peoples, local communities and women in ecosystem restoration projects, Reforest'Action designs its projects with and for the people who will benefit in the long term, via a structured process of community inclusion and empowerment throughout the life of the projects.**

![Schema-communautes-EN.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Schema_communautes_EN_5b55778ed3.png)

## Analyze the socio-economic context before launching the project

### Developing a theory of change

Prior to the development of a certified project, Reforest'Action conducts an in-depth analysis of the local context in order to identify salient social and economic issues and how the project might address them over the long term. To do this, we apply the UN's Theory of Change method, which aims to explain how a project is expected to lead to a specific development change through a cause-and-effect analysis based on observed indicators. 

Based on the local issues identified, Reforest'Action then selects criteria for assessing the project's impact on biodiversity, climate, the soil-water system and local communities, in order to set priorities in project design from the outset.

### Selection and prioritization of socio-economic evaluation criteria

Among these impact assessment criteria, the socio-economic criteria, which directly concern local communities, are grouped into 8 categories and indicate the estimated impact of the project on: 
- **Agriculture** (food safety, food security, food production, support for agriculture)
- **Water conservation** (water safety, water availability)
- **Income generation** (direct and indirect income, economic sustainability)
- **Education and training** (education and awareness-raising for young people and adults, training, contribution to the development of research and innovation)
- **Improved living conditions** (involvement and empowerment of people, equitable access to social and economic benefits, ensuring decent working conditions, improving the living environment)
- **Provision of non-food products** (wood, medicinal products, other non-food products)
- **Inherent value of the forest** (cultural and/or spiritual value, recreational service and/or landscape asset)
- **Air quality** (freshness of air, reduction of air pollutants and airborne allergens).

Reforest'Action's criteria selection method is specific to each project, and is based in particular on The Road to Restoration reference framework co-published by the WRI and the FAO. Relevant criteria are selected and prioritized according to :
- **the project's objectives**, in order to steer the project's performance and the achievement of the impacts estimated at the time of its design;
- **the project's potential risks**, to anticipate and mitigate social and economic risks in particular; 
- **the needs of the company financing the project**, notably in terms of reporting and according to its targeted objectives, linked to its activities and value chains.
- **the requirements of certification frameworks**, in order to collect the data needed for reporting to international carbon standards.


### The example of the Avé Ga project in Togo

The objectives of the Avé Ga project in Togo were defined thanks to an in-depth study of the local context and preliminary consultations with communities, even before the project began. The development of a theory of change enabled Reforest'Action to identify multiple local issues that have a direct impact on local populations. 

The project area is faced with environmental problems, particularly due to the reduction in forest cover. This is due to the practice of slash-and-burn farming, as well as unregulated logging for domestic use or resale. These practices lead to soil erosion and degradation of arable land, resulting in lower agricultural productivity and increasingly difficult supplies of firewood and timber for local populations. Added to this is a context of economic and social insecurity, insofar as local sources of employment are limited to traditional agriculture. The villages affected by the project also lack infrastructure, passable roads and limited access to water - all factors that have a direct impact on local livelihoods.

In its preliminary design, the Avé Ga project involves setting up agroforestry systems based on the introduction of fertilizer and fruit trees, in order to reverse the process of soil degradation and establish sustainable, resilient farming systems. In this way, the project is boosting food security for 10,000 families in around 85 villages involved in project activities, and stimulating the local economy by diversifying agricultural production and creating local value chains, generating additional income for local people and developing agricultural cooperatives. In addition, guided by local development committees, each village will be able to select community development projects from a range of activities proposed to them (creation of cooperatives, initiatives to support livestock breeders, etc.). These local projects will contribute to improving their livelihoods.

Villages and communities are thus at the heart of the Avé Ga project. The preliminary design will be validated with local stakeholders during the project preparation phase, prior to the start of operations scheduled for 2026.

![Togo-1.jpeg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Togo_1_f4808303ed.jpeg)

## Establishing and nurturing a quality dialogue with local communities

### Projects designed for and by local communities

As part of the process of certifying projects to an international carbon standard, in particular the Gold Standard, consultation with local stakeholders is mandatory. It consists of identifying and including the communities concerned by the project as early as the preliminary analysis phase, as well as during the project preparation phase. 

Stakeholder mapping identifies and categorizes individuals and groups within local communities and indigenous peoples in the project area, so that they can be considered and involved fairly. The aim is to ensure that everyone has a voice and benefits from the project in a way that is adapted to their issues and needs, whether they are influential members of the community or members of vulnerable minorities, for example.

The preliminary stakeholder consultation consists of interviewing a small sample of people from local communities and indigenous peoples. Its aim is to validate and complete the socio-economic issues and needs identified earlier.

Stakeholder consultation aims to open a dialogue with local communities and indigenous peoples to clarify their needs and the issues they face. To this end, group meetings or individual interviews are organized in the field with the various local stakeholders identified (representatives of communities and local authorities, landowners within the project area, local associations and cooperatives linked to the project's objectives). These stakeholders are consulted by Reforest'Action and the Project Implementer to better understand the context, community expectations and needs, and to help improve the project design and results.

The aim of these processes is to ensure that local populations are involved in the project on an equitable basis, so that it can contribute to improving their environment and living conditions over the long term. They must therefore be able to take ownership of the project in a spirit of empowerment, to help make it sustainable and thus continue to benefit from its long-term impacts.

### Due diligence and grievance mechanism

A due diligence process is carried out systematically upstream of project development, with the aim of identifying and assessing risks, including man-made risks (such as land-use change), natural risks (such as climate hazards), external risks (such as political instability) and internal risks (such as conflicts between stakeholders involved in the project). This tool ensures stakeholder alignment with environmental and social objectives, and reinforces project sustainability.

The voice of the community is also heard throughout the life of the project. In addition to due diligence, a grievance mechanism has been set up to give communities the opportunity to submit anonymous feedback on project implementation, and to report any problems encountered (discriminatory behavior, harassment, poor working conditions, etc.).

### An equitable profit-sharing model

Throughout the life of the project, Reforest'Action's equitable value distribution model ensures that the financial, social and environmental benefits generated accrue to local communities. This approach aims to ensure equity, inclusion and alignment of project impacts with the needs of local stakeholders. The most rigorous carbon standards incorporate these principles into project design criteria.

### The example of the MuLaKiLa project in Rwanda

The MuLaKiLa project is one of the largest community restoration projects in Rwanda, supported by a panel of local and international organizations. Founded on the values of solidarity, equity and autonomy, the collective action promoted by this initiative is based on the generation of measurable socio-economic impacts, for the benefit of farming communities in the country's western province. 

The project design is based on participatory approaches. To achieve this, it is necessary to take into account the economic and social context of Rwanda and its 13 million inhabitants. The second most densely populated country in Africa, more than half of Rwandans live below the international poverty line of $2.15 a day. Given this situation, the environmental value of the sustainable agricultural practices implemented thanks to the project is not enough on its own to engage the population. This is why the MuLaKiLa project makes social issues a major pillar.

In order to co-construct the project, sharing sessions were organized in March 2023 between teams from Reforest'Action, the local Project Implementer and members of the communities associated with the project. Through focus groups, the idea was to get to know the communities, their way of life, their way of using the landscape, but also to understand the challenges they are currently facing. Transcripts of all the discussions enabled us to draw up a list of the communities' needs and expectations, which were taken into account in the project's design.

For example, the integration of agroforestry, native and fruit species into the crops grown by the region's farmers is a direct response to their need for greater food security. Indeed, restoring land degraded by erosion will restore its fertility, leading to increased productivity.

It's thanks to close work with local communities that the MuLaKiLa project is now accepted, understood and supported locally - an essential dimension to the very sustainability of the project, and to its creation of the expected benefits.

![Rwanda-1.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Rwanda_1_c6dcdfcb39.png)

## Monitor the project's impact on the local economy and communities

### Building a monitoring plan

The construction of a baseline scenario, which determines what would happen in the absence of the project, and the construction of a project scenario, which details the actions to be taken to meet the impact objectives, apply to all impact indicators, which will be scrupulously monitored through a monitoring plan for a minimum of 30 years. 

The monitoring plan is a fundamental document that describes data collection procedures, the main impact indicators and the steps involved in monitoring and evaluating the project's performance. It must be based on transparent, scientifically validated methods, cover key indicators of multifunctionality and be capable of adapting to changing conditions to best meet the needs of local communities.

### Remote and field impact measurement

Throughout the life of the project, the aim is to ensure that the expected impacts occur as predicted, and that the baselines guiding these estimates remain valid. A combination of field protocols, remote sensing and geomatic tools is needed to monitor the stability and health of ecosystems and the impact of the project on the environment (biodiversity, climate, soil and water), while remote data collection and on-site interviews help to assess the impact of the project on local communities.

The socio-economic data collected remotely by Reforest'Action aims to track the number of project beneficiaries, the percentage of women in this population, the number of training courses provided to communities, the number of jobs created and the level of additional income generated. These “performance” indicators are common to many projects, and meet the reporting needs of contributors wishing to highlight the project's overall socio-economic impact.

These remotely acquired data are enriched by field missions carried out by Reforest'Action, during which the populations concerned by the project are consulted via individual or group interviews (focus groups) to monitor the evolution of the project's socio-economic impacts. The information gathered during these interviews is both quantitative (income levels of the communities concerned by the project in relation to the country's median income, volume of annual harvests, etc.) and qualitative (beneficiaries' satisfaction with the project and its design, match between the project's contributions and the needs of the populations, etc.). They complement the impact assessment by providing details on the integration of the project and how it responds to the socio-economic issues identified.

Recommendations to improve the project's socio-economic benefits can be made by Reforest'Action throughout the life of the project when a gap or weakness is identified. Adaptive management measures can also be implemented to optimize socio-economic benefits.

### The example of the Kuzuko project in South Africa

The Kuzuko project, which aims to restore over 5,000 hectares of degraded former grazing land to allow the native biodiversity of these ecosystems to return, is an example of how a project certified by an international carbon standard can improve the living conditions of human communities. 

The project is located in a South African province with a poverty rate of 48% and an average unemployment rate of 45%, where the majority of the population depends on seasonal or temporary work. In some rural communities close to the project site, the unemployment rate is as high as 85%.

The deployment of the Kuzuko project employed over 300 people, dedicated to the various implementation activities. Because these workers come from isolated communities up to 70 kilometers from the project area, high-quality infrastructure has been set up near the Kuzuko reserve to provide them with free accommodation and catering, thus avoiding long journeys between their homes and the project area. These workers are paid double the South African minimum wage. They also receive training as part of the project, enabling them to be re-employed on future projects by the local partner or other players. Impact is measured in terms of the number of people benefiting from job creation and the associated wages, as well as the training provided to workers.

The social benefits of the Kuzuko project also extend to the younger generation, as the project is funding two elementary school close to the reserve, which were in danger of closing before the project was set up due to a lack of funds. Today, the funds will be used to restore the dilapidated buildings and improve infrastructure, including the construction of wells and rainwater tanks, and to provide schoolchildren with quality learning materials such as books and computers. The funds donated to these schools thanks to the project will thus help change the life trajectory of schoolchildren by helping to teach them, from an early age, the value of natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

![Kuzuko-1.png](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Kuzuko_1_bf9697cee2.png)

**Local communities and indigenous peoples are at the heart of the projects developed by Reforest'Action, which aim to improve their quality of life and the sustainability of their production and ecosystems. Their involvement, right from the project design phase, is therefore essential to ensure that the restoration activities implemented are in harmony with the local socio-economic landscape, and provide appropriate and sustainable benefits to the populations concerned, far beyond carbon sequestration alone.**

**Reforest'Action also offers a socio-economic impact monitoring approach for all types of forest and agroforestry ecosystems, and for all types of project, whether or not certified by an international carbon standard. Eventually, these results will be reported within our MRV platform dedicated to project financiers, to provide them with key performance indicators and impact data, facilitating investment monitoring and reporting required by certification frameworks such as the CSRD.**

**Are you a company looking to invest in Nature-based Solutions and benefit from a tool that enables you to demonstrate the socio-economic impacts generated by these projects? [Contact one of our experts to discuss your needs.](https://www.reforestaction.com/contact)**

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How to include local communities to develop an adapted and sustainable project?

## NAVIGATING 2024: Market challenges and key takeaways 

In 2024 investments in the VCM slowed as investors awaited clearer signals. Concerns over the effectiveness of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects, especially avoidance projects like REDD+, fueled skepticism, impacting the entire Nature-based Solutions (NbS) market. According to SBTi (Feb 2024), concerns about carbon credit quality remained a major deterrent for companies. Yet, NbS remain critical, accounting for one-third of necessary climate mitigation (data source: UNEP).

Meanwhile, new initiatives emerged to strengthen VCM governance. The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) implemented its 10 Core Carbon Principles (CCPs), while SBTi clarified its Beyond Value Chain Mitigation (BVCM) guidelines and UN-approved crediting mechanisms (Article 6.2 and 6.4) made progress. These frameworks shape a high-integrity VCM, for both supply and demand.

**Given this landscape, investors should prioritize securing high-integrity carbon credits by evaluating projects individually and selecting those that adhere to the most rigourous integrity standards.**

**To identify high-integrity projects, download our [guide](https://info.reforestaction.com/factsheet-1-FR) and find out which criteria to include in your investment strategy.**

## HIGHLIGHT #1 Core benefits: Projects that tick all the boxes

When investing in a nature-based CDR project, evaluate its multifunctionality. High-integrity projects not only create carbon sinks but also maximize positive impacts on communities and ecosystems, known as “core benefits”. NbS cover a range of project types, such as Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR), Agroforestry, Improved Forest Management (IFM), Improved Agricultural Land Management (IALM), and Wetlands Restoration and Conservation (Blue Carbon). These projects should deliver long-lasting and multifunctional benefits across biodiversity, community livelihoods, and soil-water system improvements. 

![Core benefit community livelihoods High Integrity Project.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Core_benefit_community_livelihoods_High_Integrity_Project_f0841b1022.jpg)
_Beneficiary farmers of the MuLaKiLa project in Rwanda, which was developed by Reforest'Action, attending training as part of the project_ 

The question everyone is asking #1

**Do international carbon standards assess core benefits?** Leading carbon standards like the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Gold Standard require projects to demonstrate measurable contributions to at least three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, for more in-depth verification, investors may consider additional certifications like the CCB Standards from Verra.

## HIGHLIGHT #2 Additionality and conservativeness: A winning combination 

Additionality is a critical factor, as carbon removals must not occur without carbon finance. The criteria for proving additionality vary across standards but generally require demonstrating that VCM funding is essential for the project’s viability. Conservativeness is equally important and relies on two factors:

**1. Baseline scenarios:** Establishing what would happen in the absence of the project, including climate, biodiversity and community impact baselines, ensuring alignment with your objective of investing in projects that deliver multifunctional core benefits.
		 
**2. Carbon quantification:** Ensuring that the number of credits issued accurately reflects actual removals while preventing overstatement. Adopting a reasonably conservative approach is essential for upholding the integrity of the VCM.

The question everyone is asking #2 

**Do forest-based CDR projects meet additionality and conservativeness criteria?** Forests are among the most effective carbon sinks. With decades of scientific research backing their carbon sequestration potential, their removals can be modeled and verified with high accuracy. Deforested or degraded lands provide clear baselines, strengthening additionality assessments.

## HIGHLIGHT #3 A commitment to transparency, fairness and traceability

Strong governance is essential for high-integrity carbon removal projects. Key aspects include:

- **Full transparency:** Ensuring clear disclosure of decision-making processes
- **Robust benefit-sharing:** Ensuring fair distribution of financial and social benefits
- **Enhanced traceability:** Ensuring long-term monitoring of carbon credit transactions
- **Third-party validation and verification:** Ensuring the achievement of claimed emission removals and other targets

These four factors are critical to maintaining the overall quality of issued carbon credits, ensuring the consistency and credibility of the VCM. 

The question everyone is asking #3 

**How can fair value distribution be ensured?** Benefit-sharing guarantees that financial, social, and environmental project benefits effectively reach local communities, indigenous peoples, and landowners. This approach aims to ensure fairness, inclusion, and alignment of incentives with the needs of local communities. Trusted carbon programs incorporate these principles into project design documentation.

## HIGHLIGHT #4 Monitoring and reporting: Proof is in the impact

Monitoring evaluates whether a project successfully meets its carbon removal and core benefit targets. It ensures that expected impacts are taking place as planned and that the baseline assumptions guiding these estimations remain valid over the project’s lifetime. A combination of field protocols, remote sensing, and geomatics tools is needed to monitor the stability and health of ecosystems, as well as their impacts on nature and local communities. 

![Core benefit biodiversity High Integrity Project.jpg](https://backoffice.reforestaction.com/uploads/Core_benefit_biodiversity_High_Integrity_Project_36152c2e6b.jpg)
_The MuLaKiLa project in Rwanda is designed to improve connectivity between two native forests, creating ecological corridors useful for birds. The connectivity matrix is therefore an indicator that will be monitored over time._ 

The question everyone is asking #4 

**What does a third-party validated monitoring plan tell us?** A monitoring plan is a fundamental document that outlines the procedures for data collection, key impact indicators, and steps to track project performance. It must be based on transparent, scientifically validated methods, cover multifunctional key indicators, and be adaptable to changing conditions. 

## HIGHLIGHT #5 Managing risks: Mitigating and sharing the load

While permanence is a key criterion in nature-based large-scale project development, the most important takeaway is that eliminating risk entirely is impossible. Instead, understanding the in-the-field risks is essential, as these factors shape project durability, the certainty of field impacts and investment valuation. Success lies in accepting these variables and focusing on managing and anticipating them effectively, with a strong emphasis on transparency. 

The question everyone is asking #5 

**Can in-depth due diligence actually help reduce risk?** Yes. Due diligence is a critical tool for identifying and assessing risks, including human-induced risks (e.g. land use change), nature-induced risks (e.g. climatic hazards), external risks (e.g. political instability) and internal risks (e.g. key person risk). By ensuring transparency and alignment with environmental and social goals, due diligence strengthens investor confidence and secures project sustainability.

### What to remember: two key takeaways to keep you on track

**1) Invest in projects that meet the highest quality standards for climate, nature, and communities.** Only best-in-class projects can truly support your corporate climate strategy, while strengthening market standards and ensuring real climate impact with minimal risk. 

**2) Contribute to positive market dynamics to restore confidence in the VCM.** All stakeholders should align to uphold transparency, traceability, fair value distribution, and inclusive decision-making to drive meaningful climate action. Unlocking investment in high-integrity projects also requires risk-sharing financing frameworks backed by market players.

**Are you interested in investing in a high-quality nature-based carbon removal project? Download our [guide to find out more about the key criteria](https://info.reforestaction.com/factsheet-1-EN) you should consider before investing, or [contact our team of climate experts.](https://www.reforestaction.com/en/contact)**

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Nature-based carbon removals: How to identify high-integrity projects? Reforest’Action’s insights 

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