Climate change and the loss of biodiversity are interlinked and our future is critically dependent on it. The preservation and restoration of well-functioning natural landscapes and its underlying biodiversity is therefore essential for life on this planet. ​In the WWF’s 2022 Living Planet report they showed that since 1970, humankind has wiped out 70% of animal populations. That’s 70% in 50 years! This is the human equivalent of losing all the people in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania and China. Let that sink in. Next to that, forests are our greatest defense against climate change and biodiversity loss, but deforestation is getting worse. Since 1990, 420 million ha of forest, the equivalent of 600 million football fields, has been lost worldwide due to deforestation. Since the end of the last great ice age – 10,000 years ago – the world has lost one-third of its forests. Half of that was lost in the last century. ​Nature is sending us a clear message: act now to turn things around as we - the people - put our life-line in danger. We need to turn things around. Through efforts such as planting trees in areas that have been degraded or deforested or the (re)introduction of biodiversity within an ecosystem, reforestation & conservation helps the environment through the re-establishment of a healthy natural landscape. By providing practical, innovative, financially sustainable and scalable projects we create real measurable and long-term positive impact for nature, climate, biodiversity and people.

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance, which are the three key factors used to evaluate the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or investment. Environmental factors refer to a company's impact on the environment, such as its carbon footprint, water use, and waste generation. Social factors refer to a company's impact on society, such as its labor practices, human rights record, and community engagement. Governance factors refer to a company's internal management practices, such as its board diversity, executive compensation, and transparency. Nature Positive Strategies, on the other hand, are strategies that aim to achieve a net positive impact on nature. This means going beyond simply reducing negative impacts on nature, but actively restoring and regenerating ecosystems and biodiversity. Nature Positive Strategies can include initiatives such as reforestation, habitat restoration, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy. ESG and Nature Positive Strategies are related in that they both aim to promote sustainability and responsible business practices. By integrating ESG factors into investment decisions and business operations, companies can help to mitigate risks, reduce negative impacts, and create long-term value for stakeholders. Similarly, by adopting Nature Positive Strategies, companies can help to restore and regenerate natural systems, which can have a positive impact on both the environment and society.

Reforestation and afforestation are both terms used to describe the establishment of new forests or the regrowth of forests on land that has previously been deforested. However, there is a difference between the two. Reforestation means planting trees or allowing forests to grow back on land that was previously forested but has since been cleared or degraded. Afforestation, on the other hand, means planting trees or establishing forests on land that has never had a forest before, such as grasslands or deserts. Both reforestation and afforestation are important for restoring ecosystems, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of deforestation. Both reforestation and afforestation are important strategies for mitigating the impacts of deforestation, promoting biodiversity, and sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Greenwashing is essentially when a company or organisation provides the public or investors with misleading or outright false information about the environmental impact of a company's products and operations. It’s a deceitful advertising method to gain favour with consumers who choose to support businesses that care about bettering the planet. To avoid greenwashing, a company should take genuine steps towards becoming more environmentally sustainable. This could involve investing in renewable energy, reducing waste and emissions, sourcing sustainable materials, implementing environmentally responsible practices throughout the supply chain.

Yes, investing in biodiversity, conservation, and reforestation projects, for example through Green Sponsorship, can be a good way for a company to demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability and avoid greenwashing. Biodiversity, conservation, and reforestation projects can help to protect and restore ecosystems, which can have a positive impact on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the climate. By investing in conservation projects, a company can help to protect and preserve threatened species and habitats, and support initiatives that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. Similarly, by investing in reforestation projects, a company can help to mitigate the impacts of deforestation, restore degraded land, improve soil health, and provide habitat for wildlife. However, it's important for a company to ensure that its investments in biodiversity, conservation, and reforestation are credible and aligned with its sustainability goals. A company should conduct due diligence to ensure that the projects it invests in are scientifically sound, transparent, and deliver meaningful sustainability outcomes. The company should also be transparent about its investments and initiatives, so that stakeholders can understand the company's approach to sustainability and its progress towards sustainability goals. In addition to investing in biodiversity, conservation, and reforestation projects, a company should also take other steps towards sustainability, such as reducing its carbon footprint, sourcing sustainable materials, and implementing environmentally responsible practices throughout its supply chain. By taking a holistic approach to sustainability, a company can demonstrate a genuine commitment to sustainability and avoid greenwashing.

Green Sponsorship is corporate sponsorship or philanthropy that supports reforestation, conservation, and biodiversity projects. This type of sponsorship can take many forms, such as funding reforestation efforts in areas affected by deforestation, supporting conservation organizations that protect endangered species, or sponsoring research into biodiversity conservation. Green sponsorship for reforestation, conservation, and biodiversity projects can be a way for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, while also contributing to the restoration and protection of natural ecosystems. By supporting these initiatives, companies can enhance their brand reputation, build stronger relationships with customers and stakeholders, and create positive impacts in the communities where they operate. However, as with any type of green sponsorship, it's important for companies to ensure that their support for reforestation, conservation, and biodiversity projects is genuine and aligned with their sustainability goals and values. Companies should take care when selecting sponsorships, and ensure that their sponsorships support credible and transparent initiatives that have a meaningful impact on the environment and local communities.

The funds made available for Green Sponsorship will be solely used for the realization of a specific reforestation or conservation project. For each project a detailed overview will be provided to show where the funds will be used for. In the case of a reforestation project, the activities may include but are not limited to: Conducting research to determine the most suitable species for planting; Obtaining any licensing or permits in order to plant the trees; Hosting meetings with local stakeholders to solidify participation directly and indirectly in the reforestation project; Creating a locally adjusted planting design which incorporates local partners and organizations; Preparing the land; Ordering and preparing seedlings from local nurseries; Reserving any machines or materials needed for planting; Panting the seedlings; Mowing the surrounding areas to create vegetation mounts (for water retention); Watering the plants if necessary; Purchasing and applying natural fertilizers such as molasses.

A carbon offset is a name given to a carbon credit when it is retired by an organization to make the claim that it is compensating for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Carbon credit quality assessment can be based on underlying environmental integrity as evaluated across well-established standards. Environmental-integrity drivers of carbon credit quality include the following: Permanence. CO2 emission reduction and CO2 removal (CDR) can’t be reversed in the future. Additionality. CO2 reduction and CDR wouldn’t happen without the carbon crediting project. No leakage. CO2 emissions shouldn’t be displaced outside the project boundary. Monitoring, reporting, and verification. Carbon credits are issued based on actual and accurately measured CO2 emission reduction or CDR, following robust, independent, third-party validation and verification. Baselines. The counterfactual baseline is accurate and credible, and it avoids overestimation to avoid overcrediting. Counted only once. There’s no double counting of CO2 emission reduction or CDR from double issuance, double sale, or double claiming. No net harm. There aren’t any unintended negative impacts on biodiversity, local communities, or sustainable development more generally. Co-benefits. Activity creates positive benefits not related to greenhouse-gas emissions, such as enhanced biodiversity, sustainable development, health, and resilience.

Carbon credits / offsetting is not the solution to the problem, but it is part of it. Unfortunately, carbon credits / offsetting is not a panacea, or a once-size- fits-all solution. Companies should first and foremost be committed to reducing their carbon emissions and impact on the environment. Once companies have measured their own carbon footprint, reduced their own emissions as much as possible, then they can use carbon credits / offsets to offset their emissions. The simple fact is that climate catastrophe cannot be averted without natural climate solutions, and carbon markets, which include carbon credits & offsetting, are an essential source of funding for these sustainability projects. While it is always important (and necessary) to critique ideas and approaches, we need more implementation of robust climate solutions, not less. Let’s not allow ‘perfect’ to become the enemy of the ‘good’ when we need it most.

Additionality is a fundamental principle within the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) and offsetting, and is a term that is commonly misunderstood. Additionality means that the carbon reductions achieved by a carbon offset project would not have happened unless the project was implemented and thus creates a genuine new carbon benefit and so a more valuable project. Additionality is essential for the quality of carbon offset credits – if their associated carbon reductions are not additional, then purchasing offset credits in lieu of reducing your own emissions can make climate change worse. Through our restoration and reforestation offsetting projects we create additionality and by taking part in these projects you are directly funding climate action and real sustainable development.