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TOP STORY
FEATURE: Ecosystem condition emerges as leading metric for EU nature market
Ecosystem condition is emerging as a leading candidate metric to underpin the EU’s forthcoming market for nature credits, but its credibility will hinge on field validation as well as key methodological choices, according to observers.
NATURE & BIODIVERSITY MARKET
FEATURE: Partnership seeks to scale oyster restoration at offshore wind farms
A partnership is seeking to accelerate the deployment of oyster reefs at offshore wind farms in the North Sea, while exploring financing from nature credits.
Swiss foundation unveiled for nature market buildout with $9.6 mln support
A new Swiss foundation will launch later this year to build infrastructure for nature markets, backed by CHF 7.5 million ($9.6 mln) in catalytic capital, it was announced on Friday.
New Zealand launches assurance framework to scale voluntary carbon, nature markets
The New Zealand government on Monday unveiled its strategy to scale the country’s voluntary carbon and nature markets, focusing on unlocking private funding for restoration projects.
Zimbabwe advances national biodiversity credit framework
The government of Zimbabwe has brought together specialists this week to advance the development of a national biodiversity credit framework, with discussions centred on sustainable finance, conservation outcomes, and revenue-sharing mechanisms for local communities.
UK govt could clarify limited impact of biodiversity net gain on national priorities, analysis says
The English government could clarify that biodiversity net gain (BNG) is expected to have limited impacts on national environmental priorities to avoid confusion, analysis commissioned by a public agency has said.
POLICY
BRIEFING: COP30 presidency advances on roadmap to halt deforestation, seeks global contributions
The Brazilian COP30 presidency is pushing forward with the development of a roadmap to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, with the first consultations starting in New York on Monday on the margins of the 21st Session of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF21).
Trump administration bins conservation rule
The US Department of the Interior confirmed this week it will scrap a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule which classed conservation as an official use of public lands alongside activities including mining, grazing, and forestry.
EU Commission seeks public views on nature directives, sparking concern from environmental groups
The European Commission is gathering public input on the bloc’s Birds and Habitats Directives ahead of an upcoming effectiveness assessment which environmental NGOs have warned could see nature laws substantially weakened.
Australian govt consults on updated offset standard
The Australian government has launched a public consultation on a framework aimed at guiding environmental offsetting projects throughout the country.
Forest goals progress insufficient as 2030 deadline nears -UN report
Global progress on forest conservation remains uneven, with continued tree cover loss and financing gaps threatening efforts to meet 2030 goals, a UN assessment said.
Dutch court rules against bottom trawling in marine protected area
The District Court of The Hague ruled on Monday that Dutch bottom trawlers cannot fish without a permit in a vast marine protected area (MPA) in the North Sea.
Southeast Asia concessions hold vast carbon finance potential -report
Southeast Asia’s forestry and agricultural concessions, long associated with deforestation and biodiversity loss, may also hold untapped potential for conservation and carbon finance, according to new research.
NGO flags gaps in Australia’s draft environmental standard
An Australian NGO has identified what it says are critical flaws in a package of regulations drafted by the federal government with the aim of curbing the impacts of developments on nature.
NATURE-BASED CARBON
BRIEFING: Investors seeking ‘golden credit’ to hedge their bets in fast-evolving carbon markets -expert
Carbon investors are increasingly seeking projects that can supply a “golden credit” with multiple routes to market due to uncertainty about how demand will evolve, according to a ratings agency.
Latin America’s financial context differs from the US or Europe, and the CDR strategy should too, says business group
Latin America’s finance-sector scene creates unique and critical barriers to mobilising capital for nature-based and technology-driven carbon removal (CDR) projects, requiring creative, context-appropriate solutions beyond mere offtakes, according to a carbon industry group.
Demand remains major issue for carbon removal sector, says industry
The carbon removal (CDR) market has a demand issue, despite the EU’s new certification framework providing a “very positive signal”, market stakeholders told an industry conference Tuesday.
Carbon registry taps new lead to build nature crediting programme
A blockchain-based removal and reduction registry has appointed a new advisor to head design and build a new framework for nature-based projects, it announced on Monday.
Guyana J-REDD+ programme “already aligned” with ICVCM’s CCP label, govt claims
Guyana’s national jurisdictional REDD+ (J-REDD+) programme, which currently uses the ART TREES v2.0 ‘high forest, low deforestation’ (HFLD) methodology, is “already aligned” with the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market’s (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label, the government has claimed – even though the ICVCM has rejected this protocol for a CCP seal.
ICVCM approves Qatar-based standard body for CCP label
A fresh wave of quality-marked credits could soon flood the market after the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) awarded Core Carbon Principle (CCP) status to another standard body, approved a new methodology for the badge, and said two other methodologies could meet its high integrity status with tweaks, while failing two more.
EU’s draft carbon farming certification is weaker than Paris Agreement’s Article 6.4 -study
The European Commission’s draft rules for certifying carbon farming work are weaker than the integrity principles in the voluntary carbon market, as well as requirements under the “already imperfect” Paris Agreement Article 6.4, according to a study released on Thursday.
Shopify says durable CDR deliveries lag despite new deals
Shopify signed $24 million in new durable carbon removal (CDR) offtake contracts in 2025, but most of its suppliers remained behind their original scale-up schedules, with just 37% of credits due by year-end delivered.
Managed MRV may offer biomass CDR developers faster route to credit issuance, consultancy says
Biomass carbon removal (CDR) developers may find a faster route to credit issuance by using third-party managed monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) services, rather than software-only digital systems, but a recent analysis said the right choice depends on a project’s internal expertise and compliance capacity.
Managed forests anchor Congo Basin carbon sink, but half of stocks at risk, researchers warn
Managed rainforests across the Congo Basin absorb more carbon and account for nearly all net removals in the region, though half of these stocks are at “significant risk of rapid loss”, according to new research.
Southeast Asia concessions hold vast carbon finance potential -report
Southeast Asia’s forestry and agricultural concessions, long associated with deforestation and biodiversity loss, may also hold untapped potential for conservation and carbon finance, according to new research.
Angola landowners turn to digital platform to prepare forest carbon projects
More than two dozen Angolan landowners have registered to use the NatureOS platform to scan their areas for project potential and monitor risks such as fire, encroachment, deforestation, and climate exposure, according to the platform’s developer.
No response from Chinese developer requested to replace credits, says Verra
Verra is unable to reach a project proponent that was asked to replace credits from four Chinese projects that were found to have fallen foul of the standard body’s regulations, the voluntary carbon standard body told Carbon Pulse this week.
Over-crediting in REDD+ not driven by “unobserved” variables -analysis
Researchers have pushed back against industry claims that flaws in academic analysis explain apparent over-crediting in avoided deforestation projects, finding instead that “unobserved” local variables are unlikely to account for the large gap between estimated and claimed emissions reductions.
Preserving additionality is key to carbon market integrity, scientists say
Ensuring that carbon projects demonstrate additionality is critical to preserving market integrity and climate goals, said scientists in response to a recent academic paper that suggested rethinking such requirements.
CORPORATE
Sustainable water fund reaches $1.5 bln including related investment vehicles
A US-based sustainable water impact fund has reached $1.5 billion in value, including related co-investment funds, according to an impact report.
ADB targets nature, power grid investments under $30 bln ASEAN financing plan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to scale up investments in nature protection and the energy transition as part of a broader $30 billion financing initiative for Southeast Asian countries.
South African banks falling behind on nature risks, WWF says
South African financial institutions are lagging behind in addressing nature-related risks, reflecting a broader lack of action among some of the country’s biggest companies, according to a WWF report.
SCIENCE & TECH
Biodiversity measurement should be honest about limitations -report
A South African firm questioned how ecosystem assessments could be conducted more credibly and better serve companies’ decision-making needs in a report published Monday.
US non-profit launches ERW research hub to accelerate CDR pathway
A US-based climate research group has launched a global research initiative to accelerate enhanced rock weathering (ERW).
Oil spill risks overlap key conservation hotspots in Brazil’s Equatorial Margin, study shows
A new study has warned that expanding offshore oil exploration along Brazil’s Equatorial Margin could significantly increase risks to some of the South Atlantic’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows, mangroves, coral reefs, and rhodolith beds.
Microalgae biomass could capture urban CO2 at half the cost of conventional DAC, study says
Microalgae-based direct air capture (DAC) systems can sequester CO2 at less than half the cost of conventional technologies while generating carbon credits and biomass revenue, a recent study has found.
OAE estimates risk missing chemical, biological losses -report
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) projects could overstate their carbon removal (CDR) impact unless they account for a wider range of chemical, physical, and biological processes that can reduce CO2 uptake, according to a report.
COMMENTS
Look Beyond Binaries for Climate Progress
Echoing A Tale of Two Cities, today’s climate transition is marked by both unprecedented progress and mounting headwinds, and overcoming false binaries will be critical to unlocking the capital and action needed at scale.
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EVENTS
Ecology Calling returns on May 20 with a 1-day event titled ‘Investing in Nature’ at venue Firesyde, near the border of Surrey and Sussex, about an hour’s transport from London Waterloo. Speakers include representatives from HSBC, Rebalance Earth, RePlanet, Environment Bank, Pensions for Purpose, Crowther Lab, Gresham House, and the University of Oxford. Use the code ‘Pulse15’ to get 15% off tickets.
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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
MARKETS
Purchase – In New Zealand, Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari has sold 91 voluntary biodiversity credits to Polish hotel Stradonia, traded via platform ClimateTrade. Each credit was sold at €9.41, representing 100 square metres of land protected for a year. Under the BioCredita framework developed by forestry company Ekos, credits are issued and tracked in a blockchain-based registry. The announcement came as the New Zealand government is taking steps to build a domestic market for voluntary carbon and nature credits.
Lithuanian credits – Lithuania is exploring nature credits as a way of financing ecosystem restoration, according to Infoerdve. The LIFE BIO-CRED Baltic project, scheduled to launch between September and November, will evaluate how nature credit systems can be applied to the Baltic region, it said. Lithuania is also drafting a National Bioeconomy Action Plan, following the EU bioeconomy strategy, with a focus on the forestry industry.
Paraguay Article 6 – Paraguay’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has launched a tender for a consultant to assess mitigation activities and develop mitigation activity idea notes, it said on May 6. The work forms part of a programme led by the ministry, implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and funded by the Carbon Transaction Facility to help Paraguay participate in international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Proposals are due by June 1 via GGGI’s e-Green Procurement Portal.
UK Met Office tender – The UK Met Office is seeking suppliers of UK nature-based carbon removal credits under a contract worth up to £900,000 including VAT, according to a tender notice published on May 5. The five-year contract is expected to run from Oct. 31, 2026 to Oct. 30, 2030, with market engagement open until June 2. The procurement is intended to support the weather agency’s purchase of carbon removals, with the tender listed under Find a Tender notice 041217-2026.
New TREES VVBs – The Secretariat of the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) announced on Monday it has provisionally approved two more validation and verification bodies (VVBs) under its TREES carbon credit standard. There are now three such provisionally-approved VVBs, namely: S&A Carbon, TUV Sud, and SCS Global. The only two fully-approved VVBs are Aster Global Environmental Services and Aenor.
Delhi carbon storage – Researchers from New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi report that urban forests in the national capital, one of the world’s most polluted cities by AQI, store 346.9 tCO2e per hectare, valued at over INR 0.4 mln (USD 4,187) in carbon credits. Soil accounts for 43% of storage, locking in 149.7 tCO2e worth INR 174,000 (USD 2,100). Neem and babool trees emerged as top absorbers, while biodiversity, litter, and microbial activity further boost retention, placing Delhi’s forests as key buffers against worsening climate conditions.
CORPORATE
Joint investment – The International Finance Corporation and the asset management firm ILX are jointly allocating $40 mln to support Arborea, a timber processing company based in Uruguay, in advancing sustainable practices, according to Impact Investor. This funding will enable Arborea to expand its production capacity and improve local technical expertise while minimising its environmental impact. Planned improvements include producing thermally modified wood and boosting circular economy practices.
Restoration in Chile – Neya, a spin-off of Italian sustainable infrastructure and mobility company Mundys, has announced a new reforestation project in Chile. The company will invest in the restoration of 170 ha using native species from the Valdivian Forest. In the longer term, the project could be expanded to between 7,500-10,000 ha, with the potential removal of 55,556 tonnes of CO2e over 40 years, the company said. Verra was selected as the certifier.
Data provider prisoners – Juan Carlos Gonzalez Aybar, founder of French project developer Fronterra, criticised the fees charged by data providers in a post directed at standards body Verra in a LinkedIn post last week. He said developers were facing a “triple squeeze” from “50-90% reduction in credits”, “extremely high fees” charged by the hectare, and “overall anti-climate anti-ESG backlash”. Gonzalez Aybar urged Verra not to become “prisoner of the data providers and their business model”, adding that “if you lose the supply companies, you lose the game”. Verra replied that it “regularly review[s]” its fee structure to ensure fees both cover costs and enable project implementation, while Gonzalez Aybar clarified that “your success is ours” and “we are big supporters of your work”.
No sales – Acadian Timber this week reported no carbon credit sales in the first quarter of 2026, with its Environmental Solutions segment contributing no revenue during the period. The company said it is in the process of registering additional credits, with issuance expected in the second half of 2026. It flagged that demand and pricing in voluntary carbon markets are expected to remain stable, though the next tranche of credits from its existing Maine project has been delayed due to a transition to ACR’s updated Improved Forest Management protocol. The firm added that it is evaluating further project development opportunities, but remains focused on advancing its current project.
Biochar funding in the US – Edinburgh-based Carbogenics has secured $80,000 from New Mexico’s Job Training Incentive Program to support its US expansion, the company announced last month. The funding will support the hiring and on-the-job training of three local workers at the company’s facility in northern New Mexico. Carbogenics produces engineered biochar products for applications including anaerobic digestion, wastewater treatment, orphan gas well sealing, and DAC.
POLICY
Funding question mark – Norway has paused its UNEP funding programme, stirring concerns for the future of the already-troubled global plastic treaty negotiations, the Guardian reported on Monday. The country holds an influential position within the plastic talks, as both the largest backer of the UN environmental body and co-leader of the self-proclaimed High Ambition Coalition negotiating group. The pause came ahead of a budget revision. It is uncertain when, or if, Norway will resume its funding. Over 2022-25, Norway supported the UNEP with approximately €12 mln of donations.
Forest recovery – In Brazil, the government of the state of Roraima launched on Saturday a forest restoration project in six municipalities, in partnership with Fundacao Ajuri, a foundation linked to the Federal University of Roraima (UFRR). The initiative aims to contribute directly to biodiversity recovery and the strengthening of environmental public policies by promoting the restoration of native vegetation, improving soil quality, and protecting water resources.
Indigenous appeal – In a joint statement to UN bodies, Indigenous organisations from across the Amazon and Latin America warned that the rapid expansion of organised crime and illicit economies is fuelling a growing human rights, security, and environmental crisis in their territories, driven by extractive industries, weak state protection, and, in some cases, state complicity. The appeal coincides with the release of the report ‘Amazon Under Siege: How Crime and Militarisation Threaten Indigenous Peoples’.
Oregon wildlife funding – In the US, Governor Tina Kotek has approved a House Bill raising the state’s lodging tax from 1.25% to 2.75%, with the additional revenue earmarked for wildlife habitat protection and conservation programmes for endangered and at-risk species. The measure comes as Oregon’s 2026 State Wildlife Action Plan identified 321 species requiring greater protection, up from 294 a decade ago, despite the state’s extensive natural ecosystems and wilderness areas. The funding is intended to support long-term conservation efforts aimed at slowing the growth of endangered species across the state. (A-Z Animals)
Local action – The city of Quito, Ecuador, is developing a municipal strategy to strengthen the institutional presence in the Choco Andino, a biodiverse forest region near the capital, while protecting its ecosystems. The municipality said on Saturday it had distributed 94,000 seedlings for ecological restoration and allocated $1.5 mln in environmental incentives to improve water and soil management across 600 farms. In addition, $1.8 mln has been invested in drinking water, sewerage and sanitation projects, expanding access to basic services in rural communities in the Andean Choco region.
Corporation call – The Indian government has called on industry leaders to support habitat restoration. Bhupender Yadav, environmental minister, urged corporations to back community-based protection efforts and technology-driven wildlife monitoring systems at a recent conference. His comments come ahead of New Delhi hosting the 1st International Big Cat Summit on June 1-2, under the framework of the International Big Cat Alliance.
Forever chemicals – An EU directive revising the lists of pollutants in water entered into force on Monday, seeking to align them with the latest scientific advice. These additions include ‘forever chemicals’ (PFAS), pesticides, and microplastics. Three pieces of EU legislation will be adapted accordingly: the Water Framework Directive, the Environmental Quality Standards Directive, and the Groundwater Directive. The changes aim to make the EU more water-resilient, while contributing to its zero-pollution and water-resilience ambitions.
Restoration initiative – Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro signed a partnership to invest R$10 mln in the restoration of the Atlantic Forest, they announced on Thursday. Each side will contribute half of the funding. Part of the Floresta Viva programme, the project is expected to be carried out over 48 months and is set to involve more than 330,000 plant seedlings in 93 ha. The initiative could involve the generation of carbon credits, according to a press release.
US forest carbon – The American Forest Foundation-led Family Forest Carbon Programme has to date enrolled 200,000 acres across 20 US states, it said on May 6. Participating forests are on track to remove 3.5 mln tonnes of CO2 over the next 30 years, generating $54 mln in payments to landowners. Launched in 2021 with The Nature Conservancy, the programme is now open for enrolment across the northeast, Appalachia, midwest, and southeast.
Potential – Indonesia’s forestry and land-use sector is expected to deliver around 60% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030 under its FOLU Net Sink strategy, national news agency Antara reported, citing a Forestry Ministry official. Indonesia’s emissions could reach 2.8 bln tonnes of CO2e by 2030 without mitigation, but measures under the scheme aim to cut that to 1.2 bln tonnes, the official said. Authorities estimate the programme will require IDR 204 trillion ($12.7 bln) in funding through 2030, far above the ministry’s annual budget of around IDR 6 trillion.
SCIENCE & TECH
Status update – More scientists have joined an international committee working to produce annual reports assessing the state of relationships between humanity and the ocean. Twenty nine scientists from 14 countries will work on the next reports under the Starfish Barometer initiative, led by Mercator Ocean International. The next installment, set to be released on June 8, will include more topics than last year. It is set to pay greater attention to the role of ocean finance and emerging pressures from deep resource mining.
Mangrove atlas – Conservation International has launched its Mountains to Mangrove Atlas, aimed at mapping the parts of the Eastern Himalayas where nature projects would be most impactful. The open access platform contains data on biodiversity and climate, as well as local knowledge. Mountains to Mangroves is a restoration project looking to plant one billion trees across the region.
Yellow carbon – A team led by Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University travelled across five rural districts in Tainan to study “yellow carbon”, or carbon stored in agricultural soils, as part of efforts to develop natural carbon sinks and generate carbon credits, it announced. Researchers examined sweet potato fields in Xinhua, endangered white wax apple orchards in Xinshi, rice paddies in Liuying, and maize farms in Xinying, assessing how different crops and land management practices could absorb and store CO2. The initiative aims to create a Taiwan-specific agricultural carbon methodology using measurement, reporting, and verification systems.
Incubation – A Singapore-backed blue carbon accelerator has selected 10 startups from seven countries for its inaugural cohort, aiming to scale technologies supporting mangrove and coastal ecosystem restoration in Southeast Asia, it announced. The Blue Catalyst Challenge, led by World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore and Hatch Blue with support from the Singapore Economic Development Board, focuses on tools such as geospatial mapping, biodiversity monitoring, and digital MRV systems. Participants include Singapore-based Arkadiah Technology and Kumi Analytics, alongside firms from the UK, France, Indonesia, Switzerland, Australia, and the US. The programme aims to improve the integrity and scalability of blue carbon projects, particularly those involving mangroves, seagrasses, and coastal wetlands.
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