Quantifying carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and livelihood co-benefits to design investable NbS portfolios for European institutional investors.
The investment fund needed a pipeline of quantifiable, verifiable NbS projects across multiple geographies and ecosystem types, with robust carbon and biodiversity co-benefit estimates aligned with IPCC AR6.
Our client required a systematic scoping framework to assess NbS potential across 12,500 hectares of degraded and under-managed land in Southeast Asia and East Africa. The portfolio needed to deliver measurable carbon sequestration alongside biodiversity restoration and community livelihood co-benefits.
We applied the Seddon et al. (2020) global NbS evidence synthesis[1] and Griscom et al.'s (2017) natural climate solutions framework[2] to quantify sequestration potential across 8 ecosystem types.
• Need for EU Taxonomy-aligned DNSH screening
• IPCC AR6 emission factor requirements
• IUCN Red List biodiversity safeguards
• Community FPIC and livelihood transition planning
Our methodology integrates ecosystem science, climate finance, and community engagement into a single investment-ready pipeline.
Field-validated remote sensing assessment of 8 ecosystem types across 12,500 ha using Sentinel-2 and Planet imagery.
Carbon stock baseline calculated using IPCC AR6 Tier 2 emission factors and national forest inventory data.
Designed site-specific interventions: assisted natural regeneration, agroforestry, mangrove restoration, and peatland rewetting.
Biodiversity co-benefits modeled using IUCN Red List habitat suitability indices and landscape connectivity metrics.
15-year project finance model with carbon credit revenue, blended finance structures, and sensitivity analysis.
Remote sensing + field inventory monitoring protocol aligned with VCS VM0047 and Gold Standard requirements.
3,200 ha
2,100 ha
1,800 ha
1,500 ha
1,400 ha
1,200 ha
900 ha
400 ha
4.2 Mt CO₂e over 15 years at an average rate of 22.4 tCO₂e/ha/year across the portfolio.
Projected 18% increase in habitat suitability for 12 IUCN Red List species across restored landscapes.
Projected IRR of 8.4% under base-case carbon price ($35/tCO₂e) with downside protection at $15/tCO₂e.
Ecosystem assessment and remote sensing baseline across 8 ecosystem types.
Field validation and community FPIC consultations; carbon stock inventories.
NbS intervention design and co-benefit modeling; biodiversity connectivity analysis.
Financial model and sensitivity analysis; 15-year project structure finalized.
Monitoring protocol designed; pipeline presented to investment committee.