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Ecosystem Restoration

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Improving restoration practices: Preferred by Nature’s Ecosystem Restoration Programme

Embrace a transformative path towards ecosystem restoration excellence.  Preferred by Nature’s Ecosystem Restoration Standard serves as a guiding light for your restoration initiatives. This globally recognised Standard meticulously assesses ecosystem restoration performance at the field level across diverse biomes – tropical, temperate and boreal. 

Why it matters

In an era of rising restoration initiatives, like the Bonn Challenge, the Aichi Targets, and the New York Declaration on Forests, transparent progress tracking is crucial. Funders, investors and stakeholders actively seek ways to monitor and validate restoration efforts.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 is one of the major global commitments to halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. Preferred by Nature aligns proudly as an official Actor for this initiative.

For project managers navigating the complexities of restoration, our Standard serves as a comprehensive guide for improvement. Project managers can use it as a checklist to identify potential gaps and ensure resources are strategically invested. It can help foster clear communication about your restoration efforts, demonstrating accountability and commitment to social and environmental excellence.

The Standard has been used to evaluate the restoration efforts across forests, mangroves and tourism destinations in several countries around the world.  

Ecosystem Restoration Verification

The verification process underscores the importance of field performance – ensuring that your restoration efforts are technically sound, environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

We understand that restoration projects vary in scale and community involvement. Our approach is tailored to accommodate these differences:

  • Larger-scale initiatives (over 10,000 ha): entails comprehensive documentation to meet verification requirements.
  • Medium-scale initiatives (in between 100 and 10,000 ha): a moderate level of documentation to meet verification requirements. 
  • Smaller-scale and community-led projects may require less documentation, with report capturing essential information for due diligence.

Our approach introduces “core” and “continuous improvement” indicators. This strikes a balance between mandatory assessment criteria and the encouragement of progressive field-level advancements.

>> Explore the Standard
>> Download our info sheet

Benefits of choosing our Ecosystem Restoration verification

Choosing Preferred by Nature’s Ecosystem Restoration verification positions you at the forefront of responsible restoration. You gain access to a wealth of benefits, including:

  1. Strengthen reporting and disclosures
  2. Enhance your brand
  3. Demonstrate credibility
  4. Improve your restoration efforts.
  5. Gain better insight on effective practices
  6. Provide confidence to your funders
  7. Seek further funding with clarity on your project
  8. Strengthen the relationships with your stakeholders

Verified organisations

Our Ecosystem Restoration verification programme offers organisations a means to communicate their sustainability progress and gain recognition. Depending on the site, restoration may focus beyond forest or trees to include elements of the target natural forest ecosystem, e.g.: wetlands, riparian zones, etc.

>> Access our database of verified organisations 

How is the verification process?

Kick off your verification process and receive a service quote by completing our service request form or contacting us directly. The process typically includes the following steps:

Step 1: Identifying Restoration Manager 
The individual responsible for implementing restoration and meeting verification requirements at the field level is identified.

Step 2: Stakeholder engagement
Primary stakeholders are consulted prior to or during the field verification.

Step 3: Performance review
An effectiveness review is conducted, adapted to risk, scale and intensity for SH&Cs and medium projects and annually for large projects.

Step 4: Audit report
The auditor prepares a draft, which the Restoration Manager then reviews. Any major non-conformities reported shall be closed before verification is granted.

Step 5: Public summary and claim
A public summary of the report is made available on the Preferred by Nature Certificate Database. For public claims to be made, they must first be reviewed and approved by our auditor or accountability system. 

Complaints and resolutions

If a complaint is raised about our certification services or one of our clients, we handle this in accordance with our Dispute Resolution Policy. We may call on our Impartiality Committee if Preferred by Nature’s impartiality is under question.

Ecosystem Restoration Verification

Our dynamic verification approach acknowledges the evolving nature of restoration and the rapid advancements in technology. We do not prescribe a one-size-fits-all solution. We embrace a variety of restoration techniques, including tree plantations, assisted natural regeneration, agroforestry, natural forest management, enrichment planting, rewilding, improved pastoralism, regenerative agriculture etc. 

Socio-economic aspects

This approach recognises the critical need to consider economic and social factors beyond the original or reference ecosystems. Successful ‘ecological’ restoration cannot ignore economic and social factors or community needs. This may lead to blended approaches that include actions to produce products or ecosystem services of value to communities or companies.

Smallholders and Communities (SH&C)

Placing SH&C at the centre is a key principle. Our approach reduces documentation, audit frequency, promotes local expert training, and emphasizes the use of technology to empower local parties and reduce audit costs.

Project validation

In the case of a proposed restoration with recently started management activities, our validation option confirms compliance with applicable requirements. This ensures a credible plan for successful verification.

Explore the Ecosystem Restoration Standard

Our Ecosystem Restoration Standard is a global benchmark for assessing restoration performance. It provides a structured approach for field-level verification, encompassing a broad spectrum of techniques. The Standard prioritises native species while accommodating the strategic use of alien species where they provide “nursing” or similar qualities, leading towards the re-establishment of natural forest cover or ecosystem function.

 

Designed for flexibility, our Standard applies to projects of all scales and stages. Since its inception, it has undergone rigorous testing and public consultation, evolving to meet the needs of various ecosystems and stakeholders.

In 2021, version 2.0 was developed and underwent a round of public consultation which led to the release of version 3.1. For a clearer idea of the changes in the latest version, click the links below:

>> Access the Standard

The AlVelAl project in Spain is the first restoration effort verified against this Ecosystem Restoration Standard.

Documents

Standard

ER cover
Ecosystem Restoration
Preferred by Nature Ecosystem Restoration Standard V3.1
Author:

This standard was designed to audit performance at any scale and at any point i...

This standard was designed to audit performance at any scale and at any point i...

Info sheet

ER infosheet
Ecosystem Restoration
Ecosystem Restoration Verification Info Sheet
Author:

Learn more about the Ecosystem Restoration Verification programme.

Learn more about the Ecosystem Restoration Verification programme.

Get in contact with us

Our experts are ready to support you on your sustainability journey.

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Gain more insights into the programme! 
Join our upcoming courses.

Event title Event type Language Location Dates Status
Ecosystem Restoration and Carbon Initiatives: A Practical Course in the Borneo Rainforest Expert course English Sabah, Malaysia 17 -
Nature-based Solutions: Ecosystem Restoration and Carbon Projects Training Course Expert course English Cercedilla, Spain 25 -
Event title Event type Language Location Dates Status
FSC og PEFC sporbarhedscertificering (Chain of Custody - CoC) Seminar Danish Hørning, Denmark 28 - Completed
Meeting EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements for the coffee sector Seminar English Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 15 - Completed
Navigating the EUDR with practical solutions for Indonesia’s supply chain Webinar Bahasa Indonesia Online 30 - Completed
FSC Controlled Wood Expert Course Expert course English Jurmala, Latvia 27 - Completed
EUDR: Get ready with our overview, updates and solutions Webinar Japanese Online 17 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course English Minnesota, USA 29 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course Spanish Argentina 27 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course Spanish Argentina 21 - Completed
EU Deforestation Regulation: Unpacking the latest updates and solutions Webinar Chinese Simplified Online 08 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Montreal, Canada 25 - Completed
EUDR: Understanding implications for US companies Webinar English Online 13 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course English Toronto, Canada 12 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course Chinese Simplified China 05 - Completed
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): Implications for the agricultural sector Webinar Spanish Online 20 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Berlin, Germany 19 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course English Berlin, Germany 30 - Completed
Implications of the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for the forestry sector Webinar Spanish Online 17 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course English Bangalore, India 12 - Completed
FSC Chain of Custody Expert Course Expert course English Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA 28 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Jurmala, Latvia 20 - Completed
Sustainability in Practice: EUDR & Carbon Footprint Management Seminar Estonian Tallinn, Estonia 16 - Completed
Sustainability in Practice - EUDR & Carbon Footprint Management Seminar Latvian Rīga, Latvia 15 - Completed
Sustainability in Practice - EUDR & Carbon Footprint Management Seminar Lithuanian Vilnius, Lithuania 13 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Beijing, China 06 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Beijing, China 06 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course Spanish Concepción, Chile 02 - Completed
FSC Controlled Wood Expert Course Expert course English Jurmala, Latvia 26 - Completed
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): Business implications and impact Webinar Chinese Simplified Online 22 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course Spanish Medellín, Colombia 14 - Completed
EUDR & the Future of Forest-risk Commodities Procurement Seminar, Webinar Japanese Tokyo, Japan 12 - Completed
FSC Controlled Wood Expert Course Expert course English Online 05 - Completed
FSC Forest Management Expert Course Expert course English Jurmala, Latvia 29 - Completed
How Scientific Testing can support companies to comply with Due Diligence requirements of the EUDR? Webinar English Online 28 - Completed
How Scientific Testing can support the enforcement of the EUDR? Webinar English Online 21 - Completed
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): Business implications and compliance Seminar Chinese Simplified Shanghai, China 20 - Completed
Complying with the new EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR): A practical workshop for timber businesses Seminar Vietnamese Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam 13 - Completed
EUDR and FSC Policy to Address Conversion & Remedy Framework – What will it mean for Malaysian companies? Seminar English Sabah, Malaysia 09 - Completed
EUDR and FSC Policy to Address Conversion & Remedy Framework – What will it mean for Malaysian companies? Seminar English Sarawak, Malaysia 08 - Completed
EUDR and FSC Policy to Address Conversion & Remedy Framework – What will it mean for Malaysian companies? Seminar English Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 06 - Completed
Informationsdag FSC og PEFC sporbarhedscertificering Seminar Danish Denmark Completed

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