High-quality carbon projects are those that generate carbon credits while delivering lasting and tangible outcomes for nature and people. When managed with integrity and governed transparently, carbon projects can be an immediate and effective tool in avoiding and reducing carbon emissions. Conserving and restoring threatened ecosystems, financing renewable energy or supporting fuel-efficiency keeps carbon locked away and restores carbon sinks. By protecting nature and equipping local and indigenous communities, these projects also deliver on many of the other critical issues we face.
Ecosphere+ strives to maximise finance for these high-integrity projects and we do this by partnering with implementors and communities with the context, relationships and knowledge needed to drive landscape-scale change.
We seek ecosystems across the world that are most threatened and through climate finance from the sale of carbon credits, empower local stakeholders to develop effective, community-led solutions.
Carbon project types
Alongside our partners, Ecosphere+ works to build and scale carbon projects generating carbon credits across numerous methodologies. Project types include:
Forest Conservation (REDD)
REDD projects reduce net GHG emissions by reducing deforestation and/or degradation of forests.
Restoration
Restoration projects increase net GHG removals by restoring ecosystems that reduce GHG emissions, such as wetlands and peatlands.
Assisted Natural Regeneration
ANR projects promote forest regeneration through silvicultural activities that induce or accelerate an increase in forest biomass, as compared to natural regeneration.
Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation
ARR projects increase carbon sequestration and/or reduce GHG emissions by establishing, increasing or restoring vegetative cover (forest or non-forest) through the planting, sowing or human-assisted natural regeneration of woody vegetation.
Access to clean energy
Clean energy or renewable energy projects that are based only in Least Developed Countries reduce GHG emissions by decreasing the country’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and unsustainable energy production.
Fuel-efficient clean cooking
Clean cooking projects introduce new, efficient thermal energy generation units to reduce the use of non-renewable biomass for combustion
Clean fuel switch
Replacing traditional cooking fuels with more energy-efficient fuel, such as bio-ethanol, to reduce GHG emissions.
Fire prevention
Fire prevention projects use controlled burning to manage fire risks, thereby preventing widespread forest loss and degradation.
Blue carbon conservation and restoration
Blue carbon projects protect and restore carbon sinks within the above and belowground biomass and sediments of coastal and marine environments.
Contact us to learn more about how we incorporate various project types to develop comprehensive solutions for our clients.
Showcasing some of the projects we bring to market
- Forest conservation in Guatemala
- Indigenous forest management in Peru
- Fuel-efficient cookstoves in the DRC
Conservation Coast
The Conservation Coast is an internationally recognised forest conservation project spanning the Caribbean coastline of Guatemala from Belize in the north to Honduras in the south. The project protects critically threatened cloud forest home to an abundance of unique and threatened species, including the Jaguar and West Indian Manatee, as well as over 120 species of migratory birds. Project activities support sustainable livelihoods for local and indigenous communities, such as through promoting legal land titling and diversified agroforestry. The project is perhaps best known for its wide-ranging programme to improve access to healthcare and education for local and indigenous women and girls who face systemic poverty and inequality in Guatemala.
Quality assurance
IMPACT DELIVERED TO DATE
CLIMATE
Almost 5.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided
ECOSYSTEMS
54,157 hectares of threatened forest protected
SPECIES
30 threatened species protected, including the Baird’s tapir and West Indian manatee
LIVELIHOODS
487 jobs created or supported
INCLUSIVITY
24% of jobs held by women
SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE
3 sustainable businesses supported, such as an ecotourism travel hub
FAIR ECONOMIC RETURN
€8.4m contributed to local economy
SUSTAINABLE COMMODITIES
Cardamom, xate (jungle leaf), pepper, rambutan, lychee, cinnamon, timber and ecotourism
Forest management with Shipibo Conibo and Cacataibo indigenous communities of the Ucayali region (Nii Kaniti)
Nii Kaniti is a unique, indigenous-led forest conservation project situated in the Amazon rainforest in Easterm Peru which brings together seven communities to conserve critically threatened ancestral lands through sustainable forest management. Situated on the banks of the Ucayali River, activities to conserve over 127,000 hectares of the project area focus on indigenous-led enterprises, such as womens’ handicrafts and cacao agroforestry. The project has also developed the world’s first indigenous-led FSC programme as part of a landscape-level programme that is conserving critically threatened Amazon rainforest, home to threatened species such as the Jaguar and Blue-Headed Macaw.
Quality assurance
IMPACT DELIVERED TO DATE
CLIMATE
Almost 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided
ECOSYSTEMS
127,004 hectares of threatened forest protected
SPECIES
5 threatened species protected, including the Jaguar, Blue-headed Macaw and Tapir
LIVELIHOODS
357 jobs created or supported in areas such as FSC timber extraction and agroforestry
INCLUSIVITY
35% of jobs created or supported held by women, and 32 women in management roles within productive organisations and committees
SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE
3 sustainable businesses supported, such as an ecotourism travel hub
FAIR ECONOMIC RETURN
EUR 3,926,170 invested into livelihood activities and local supply chains
SUSTAINABLE COMMODITIES
FSC certified timber – the first indigenous FSC programme in the world and first FSC programme in Peru
Kalemie
This project introduces fuel-efficient cookstoves into rural villages in Eastern DRC, thereby reducing wood fuel consumption and associated deforestation, as well as improving household air quality which disproportionately affects women and children. The project generates livelihoods opportunities for local communities in the distribution and installation of cookstoves, and is empowering women through reallocating the time spent collecting wood to opportunities in education and employment.
Quality assurance
Target project impacts
CLIMATE
CO2 emissions avoided or reduced through the distribution of improved cookstoves to 400,000 households
ECOSYSTEMS
Hectares of threatened forest protected
LIVELIHOODS
New jobs created in distribution and installation
INCLUSIVITY
Jobs created or supported held by women
A global project portfolio
Ecosphere+ nature heroes
Meet some of the people at the core of our projects
Meet
Mayra
Guatemala
Meet
Kristianwan
Indonesia
Meet
Marisela
Perú
Meet
Ibu Ita
Indonesia
Meet
Iyani
Guatemala
Meet
Emilio
Guatemala
Species spotlight
A closer look at some of the species whose habitat is protected through climate finance
Banana Spider
Sumatran Tiger
West-Indian Manatee
Giant River Otter
Storm’s Stork
Harpy Eagle
Atelopus Pulcher
Jaguar
Project pinboard
We are constantly assessing new projects and opportunities in order to bring the best to market. Check out where our team has been lately.
Burundi: clean cookstoves manufacturing
Members of our project team travelled to Burundi to get to know the manufacturing process and employees at the clean cookstoves plant supplying a community-based carbon project just across Lake Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Peru: indigenous-led forest management
A recent trip took some of our team to Eastern Peru to meet some of the indigenous communities involved in the Nii Kaniti project who have established the world’s first indigenous-led FSC programme.
Senegal: rural solar power
Our Technical Manager travelled to Senegal to tour the Sakal Solar Farm and meet the local communities involved in a project proving the viability and importance of Senegalese renewable energy.
Project standards, ratings & impacts
All the projects we represent are verified by external auditors under the market’s leading standards and ratings that certify quality and impact. As part of numerous membership organisations and affiliate groups, our team is constantly assessing emerging quality assurance mechanisms to ensure our portfolio exceeds the highest standards.
