Level

The results of our first social impact assessment on Carbon Tanzania's Yaeda Valley REDD project are out! Using the Social Return on Investment methodology to measure the value people gained from the project it has been determined that for every $1 invested into the Yaeda Valley REDD project, we see a $25 Social Return on Investment. 💵 How did we arrive at this calculation? Read the below paper to find out 👇 Or download the paper here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d9xHzSVB #social #impact #measure #investment

Have you been inspired by this article highlighting Maliasili’s research into the extent of wildlife in Africa protected by local communities? 🎙️ “Tanzania has an area equivalent to seven Yellowstones managed for wildlife by herders, farmers, and hunter-gatherers.” This article sheds light on the undeniable need to support local communities to take charge of conservation efforts, success stories highlighting such approaches and also at various funding models. Carbon Tanzania is mentioned for its approach that focuses on developing equitable partnerships with local communities in order to finance protection activities and foster economic growth through the sale of high-quality carbon credits. 🤝 At Level, we believe that this collaborative approach is what makes conservation projects successful. By valuing the knowledge and contributions of local communities, we can create solutions that are not only effective but also inclusive and enduring. Read the full article ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dvPa2SKp  #communityled #equitablepartnerships #conservationinafrica

How does Jan 2025 compare with Jan 2024 for inquiries from buyers of carbon credits❓ In 2025 we are seeing a good number of inquiries from new and previous buyers. However, the buyer is now more curious. While some have experience and are asking all of the right questions to help them avoid the pitfalls of buying low quality credits, some buyers are still learning. That is why we have decided to share some of the questions we have received from our clients seeking to understand the true quality of our carbon credits: 1️⃣ On the look out for transparency: Is the information on your company publicly available? Can you share the project PD and monitoring reports? 2️⃣ Certification: Who verifies your project? 3️⃣ Partnerships with local communities: What is the nature of your partnership with the local communities living in the project area? How much of the revenue from this carbon credit sale will be shared with your local community partners? 4️⃣ Seeking permanence: How many years do the contracts you have with your community partners last? What questions would you like answered to help you on your journey to buying high-quality carbon credits? #invest #carboncredits

A new article by Anna Scott talks about biodiversity credits as a key tool for addressing environmental impacts while supporting conservation efforts. 🌱 What’s happening? > Governments, businesses, and investors are recognising the value of biodiversity credits to balance development with nature. > Credits allow organisations to compensate for their biodiversity impact by investing in restoration projects. 💬 Why does it matter? > The growing framework ensures that credits are credible and aligned with measurable conservation outcomes. > Challenges remain around standardisation, transparency, and ensuring genuine ecological benefits. 📈 What’s next? > According to experts 2025 is set to be a landmark year for biodiversity credits, with scaling efforts and policy alignment becoming central to their success. A must-read guide for anyone interested in nature-positive solutions: https://lnkd.in/ewWNpmyP #BiodiversityCredits #ConservationFinance #NaturePositive Alex Saer Simas Gradeckas Toral Shah Keith Bohannon Eric Wilburn Jo Anderson Level Drea Burbank Anna Lerner Nesbitt Megan Pillsbury Zoe Balmforth Owain Griffiths

Great to see research highlighting the essential role that private finance can have on conservation outcomes at scale. For me this speaks strongly to the role that climate finance can have at scale in supporting national entities, the importance of partnerships between NGO and private sector as well as the never ending need to ensure governments see these areas as valuable and important to the national and global interest. If the analysis was to go beyond the accuracy of GFW and look at degradation in these areas, we would almost certainly see an even bigger impact on both emissions and on species loss as degradation is more species specific. #climatefinance #africa #Tanzania #naturebasedsolutions

It is clear that we need to build the evidence base that nature-based solutions (NBS) generate both ecological and social benefits. But how do we go about doing that❓ 🗣️By effectively measuring and communicating the human impacts and social benefits that NBS projects are currently creating. In order to do this, we need to listen deeply to the lived experience of those currently at the heart of operating NBS. Fortunately, we can help you do this. We have developed a solution that incorporates a rigorous methodology that enables us to understand what changes for people when nature is protected. 💡Once we have truly listened to the people on the ground operating the projects, we can begin to understand what is working, what course corrections need to be taken and share best practices to allow high-integrity NBS to scale. ✉️ Contact us to learn more about our approach #naturebasedsolutions #people

It’s a new year and the pressure on nature-based carbon projects to deliver climate, biodiversity and livelihood benefits has never been greater. The excess of conflicting information about what nature-based carbon credits actually deliver can be overwhelming and confusing for any potential buyer. That is why we are starting the year off with a summary of what to look for to ensure you’re investing in high-quality, nature-based carbon credits: 🧾Verified standards with third party audits: Choose credits that meet reputable international standards, such as Plan Vivo or the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). These certifications ensure the projects undergo regular third-party audits to verify their impact and adherence to standards. 👥 Community-led: Ensure people from the local communities are at the centre of project design and operation. Partnerships between the project developer and the local communities need to equitably reflect what each party is bringing to the project. 🔬Robust scientific methodology: Projects need to adopt methodologies that use the latest science and technology. 🔎Transparency: Look for transparency in project documentation and MRV. Reliable projects provide clear, accessible data on emissions reductions, methodologies, and monitoring. ➕ Co-Benefits: High integrity carbon credits often offer additional social and environmental benefits, such as biodiversity conservation and community development. 🔁 Additionality and Permanence: A project is additional if the emissions reductions or removals would not have occurred without the carbon revenue. Ensure the projects have measures in place to maintain carbon sequestration over the long term, including equitable contracts with local communities. This helps to prevent future emissions reversals. Investing in high integrity carbon credits is more than just reducing your emissions. Your choice can also support projects that make a positive difference to communities around the world. ✉️ Contact us to learn how the credits we sell meet these criteria. #invest #carboncredits #decarbonization

This is an excellent piece on REDD baselines, hats of to Everland and Space Intelligence. This research shows quite clearly that the perceptions of REDD, rather than the measured impact have been a major driver in the discourse. #science #nature #REDD

Often, standard measures of SDGs fail to capture the full scope of impact, as they overlook the nuanced experiences of individuals. We need to listen to lived experiences because, to properly capture and evidence value, we must delve deeper and engage directly with community members. Their insights are crucial for accurately reflecting the true impact of initiatives. Read about Reflect, our social value solution, to learn about how we can support you with gaining a deeper understanding of the impact your conservation initiative is having on the local community where you operate. 👇 https://lnkd.in/dzrmVpji #socialimpact #carbonfinance #people

Have you ever wondered how social science can help conservation initiatives to understand the value of a project beyond dollars invested❓ Our social value solution, Reflect, uses the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology. But what exactly is it, and why should it matter to you? 🔢 SROI calculates the value generated by a project in terms of social, environmental and community-wide benefits. By incorporating the SROI methodology into our solution, Reflect is able to: 1️⃣ Provide real-time monitoring tools 2️⃣ Enable comprehensive evaluations 3️⃣ Instill investor confidence 4️⃣ Ensure the integrity and success of NBS initiatives 5️⃣ Give project developers a negotiating edge by highlighting a wide range of social and economic advantages Read more about Reflect below ⬇️ #socialimpact #conservation #investment