For the last 12 months the Plan Vivo Foundation (PVF) has been working on the development of a pioneering Biodiversity Standard (PV Nature). 

Why now? 

The growth of nature markets offers real potential to channel ethical investment to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, to incentivise the conservation of biodiversity. After 25 years in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) we are well positioned to play a key role in this.  

There is has been a lot of interest in this upcoming standard - from both the supply and demand side. Throughout the development of PV Nature, we have taken the time to consult with a range of stakeholders and external parties in order to develop a Standard set to deliver high-integrity biodiversity certificates / credits that are robust, verifiable, and fairly-traded.  

How will PV Nature work?

Unlike the VCM, these certificates are not targeted at an offset approach. Rather, in line with the Nature Positive movement, they are aimed are positively incentivizing landowners and communities to conserve and restore important habitats across the world that are critical for biodiversity and people to thrive. 

Since the second half of 2021 we have partnered with the Wallacea Trust, who are leading a peer reviewed methodology development process centred around biodiversity quantification. At Plan Vivo we are adapting and developing this novel methodology for use with our Standard. 

To ensure that PV Nature is accessible for high quality projects, we have been testing the Standard against seven pilot projects. These have been reviewed internally by members of the Plan Vivo team, looking for completeness of the application, the biodiversity metrics, and the social and community aspects of the project. These pilot projects are now being sent to a team of expert reviewers that specialise in different biomes globally. Subsequently we have been using these pilot project applications to help identify any gaps and potential issues raised within the review process, which in turn is informing the development of PV Nature. 

Ensuring integrity in biodiversity markets

PV Nature will be fully aligned with Plan Vivo's core values - ensuring the holistic impact, participatory approach, transparent and equitable benefit sharing for communities.  

We have collaborated with the International wildlife conservation charity Fauna & Flora International (FFI), to develop a set of high-level principles for integrity in the emerging biodiversity credits market, which aim to minimise the risks of potential trading (see news 26/01/23: High-level integrity principles developed to steer emerging biodiversity credits market).

High-Level Integrity Principles >

  

The public consultation process 

The Public Consultation process has now closed. All the relevant draft documents can be reviewed here. Find out more: 

Public Consultation >

  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our biodiversity team: [email protected]

   

Banner photo - Credit: Douglas Pikacha/supplied by the Nakau Programme