Natural Capital Credits
Climate change is a global issue, and it requires a global solution. There are a number of actions that can be taken to keep global warming below the 2 degree Celsius target; saving the planet’s natural resources is essential to the mitigation of climate change. There is a natural climate solution that is already in place to help capture and store carbon in significant amounts. This solution is simply, protecting our natural forests.
Forests store vast amounts of carbon, and when protected ensure that those levels are maintained, therefore ensuring that they are not emitted through deforestation, or other land-use-related effects. They can also continue to capture and store additional carbon, and therefore further contributing to reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere. Natural Capital Credits are the result of successful forest protection projects being implemented.
Standing forests have a substantial carbon value, and Natural Capital Credits can be the catalyst to ensure that they remain standing, continue to absorb and store carbon, and provide a long-term, large-scale and effective climate mitigation program.
Forests
Forests can mitigate climate change. By capturing and storing carbon, forests remove significant volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Natural Capital Credits are a way of demonstrating that a forest is being effectively protected so the carbon stored in these forests remains stored and does not get released as a result of deforestation or forest degradation (REDD).
Forests also influence nature’s capacity to cope with natural hazards, acting as barriers against heavy rains, flooding and strong winds. They help control or reduce the risk of soil erosion, landslides and avalanches. Forests therefore have an important role in the wider ecosystem, protecting the homes and communities of animals. Natural Capital Credits also signify that there are biodiversity and community benefits being brought about as a result of the forest conservation projects which are certified with these carbon credits.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a term used to refer to the diversity of life on earth.
Biodiversity includes all the living organisms and the ecosystems in which they occur. The number of species of plants, animals, microorganisms, and the enormous diversity this includes is highly valuable within the different ecosystems on the planet, such as rainforests. Together, these ecosystems and species create a balance and ensure the continuance of life in the natural world and Natural Capital Credits. They also help regulate and ensure the provision of oxygen, water and natural resources that are essential for our existence on Earth.
Forests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and are home to about 80 percent of the world’s land-based animals and plants. Appropriate forest conservation and sustainable development strategies, such as the Natural Capital Credits framework of the Natural Forest Standard are being recognised as an integral approach to preserving biodiversity, and our nature-based climate solutions.
Carbon Credits
- Natural Capital Credits are carbon credits that demonstrate combined carbon, social and biodiversity benefits have been achieved though the successful implementation and verification of REDD+ projects in accordance with the Natural Forest Standard.
- The term Natural Capital Credits signifies a recognisable consistency in quality, as each one encompasses a combination of ecosystem, nature-based benefits.
- NCCs intrinsically combine the carbon, community and ecosystem benefits of a project that are instantly recognisable as a natural climate solution.
- Natural Capital Credits are carbon credits denoted in tonnes of CO2e as each one represents that one tonne of CO2 has been avoided from being released into the atmosphere as are result of the successful protection against deforestation.
- Natural Capital Credits are validated and verified by third-party verification specialists under ISO14064-3 and ISO14065 guidelines.