For the last 24 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 (IPLCs) and to incentivise the conservation and restoration of nature and biodiversity. After 25 years in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) we are well positioned to play a key role in how these markets evolve.   

There is 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 to develop a Standard set to deliver high-integrity biodiversity certificates that are robust, verifiable, and fairly traded.

   

How will PV Nature work?

The Plan Vivo Foundation (PVF) has been working, together with a number of partners, on the development of a pioneering Biodiversity Standard called PV Nature.   

PV Nature is Plan Vivo’s Biodiversity Standard, aimed at generating the first high-integrity biodiversity certificates that deliver robust and credible outcomes for nature alongside social and climate benefits.  

PV Nature is fully aligned with the high-integrity principles developed in partnership with Fauna & Flora and Carbon Tanzania - ensuring holistic impact (for nature, climate and communities), a participatory approach, and transparent, equitable benefit-sharing for communities.  

 PV Nature will issue two types of Plan Vivo Biodiversity Certificates:  

1. Restoration certificates generated via restoration of degraded ecosystems  

1. Conservation certificates generated via conservation of areas with globally significant biodiversity. 

 

Ensuring integrity in biodiversity markets

Unlike the VCM, these certificates are not offsets. Rather, in line with the Nature Positive* movement, they are aimed at positively incentivising landowners and communities to conserve and restore important ecosystems across the world that are critical for biodiversity and people to thrive.  

To ensure that PV Nature is accessible to high-quality projects, we have been testing the Standard with seven pilot projects. These have been reviewed internally by members of the Plan Vivo team, looking for completeness of the application, the biodiversity monitoring plan, and the social and community aspects of the project. These pilot projects have been invaluable in identifying gaps and potential challenges for the launch of PV Nature. 

 

PV Nature official launch webinar

On the 7th of December, 2023 Plan Vivo hosted a webinar to announce the launch PV Nature. The webinar brought together Plan Vivo and key partner organisations, to discuss the emerging biodiversity market, the opportunities for projects and market actors through mechanisms such as PV Nature, and the PV Nature Standard documentation. A recording of the webinar is available below. 

   

Questions or queries? 

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

 

PV Nature documentation

     

*Plan Vivo defines 'Nature Positive' as: A movement aimed at making a positive (and measurable) contribution to reversing biodiversity loss and increasing the resilience of our planet and communities, by positively incentivising people (in particular IPLCs) to conserve and restore important and threatened species and ecosystems.