Overview
How this pathway works
Ecosystem restoration projects actively intervene to recover the ecological structure, function, biodiversity, and carbon stocks of terrestrial systems that have been degraded, damaged, or partially destroyed. The defining feature distinguishing Annex D from ARR (Annex A) is the reference ecosystem approach: restoration activities must target a defined ecological end-state represented by an intact or recovered reference ecosystem, and carbon stock trajectories must be modelled against this reference.
Under TNS v1.0 Annex D, project developers must identify one or more reference sites within the same biome and region - intact or well-recovered ecosystems representing the ecological endpoint the restoration is working toward. Reference sites provide the carbon stock ceiling against which the project trajectory is measured, the species composition targets for native revegetation, and the ecological integrity benchmarks used in monitoring.
Four ecosystem types are covered under four distinct methodology codes. ECO-M01 covers riparian and floodplain systems; ECO-M02 covers savanna and grassland restoration with mandatory fire management; ECO-M03 covers dryland and semi-arid ecosystem restoration; and ECO-M04 covers upland forest multi-species planting and assisted regeneration. Each carries specific reference ecosystem requirements, carbon pool obligations, ecological integrity monitoring protocols, and fire management provisions where applicable.
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Class II - Ecological permanence. All Annex D credits carry Class II Ecological permanence, reflecting the 100–500+ year carbon storage horizon of recovering terrestrial ecosystems. Buffer pool contributions of 15–30% apply, with the specific rate determined by the project's Non-Permanence Risk Rating at validation and each verification. Ecological integrity indicators are monitored alongside carbon stocks - projects that degrade in ecological function trigger a mandatory VVB review regardless of whether carbon stocks are maintained.
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Reference ecosystem requirement. A minimum of one reference site must be identified before validation. The reference site must be within 200 km of the project area and in the same biome, climate zone, and soil class. Where no intact reference site exists within this distance, a composite reference may be constructed from multiple degraded-but-recovering sites, with VVB acceptance of the composite methodology required before validation commences.
Governing Standard
TNS v1.0 - Annex D
This pathway is governed exclusively by the Teravent Nature-Based Carbon Standard (TNS v1.0). All requirements - additionality, quantification, ecological integrity monitoring, MRV, safeguards, permanence risk, and credit issuance - are defined within TNS v1.0 and Annex D. No external standard, registry, or methodology is referenced or incorporated.
TCR›
TNS v1.0›
Annex D - Ecosystem Restoration›
ECO-M01 through ECO-M04
M02
Three-test additionality - regulatory surplus, financial additionality, common practice survey; reference ecosystem approach confirms baseline degradation
M03
Carbon stocks estimated against reference ecosystem trajectory - allometric biomass, SOC, DOM, and ecological integrity indicators all monitored
M04
Class II Ecological permanence · Buffer 15–30% · NPRR includes fire (ECO-M02), hydrological change (ECO-M01), drought (ECO-M03), and tenure risk
M05
Biodiversity Impact Assessment mandatory · Reference ecosystem species composition targets required · FPIC on indigenous and community lands
M06
30-year initial crediting period + renewals; fire management plan mandatory for ECO-M02 savanna and ECO-M03 dryland projects
M07
TNC serial: TCR–TNS–ECO–[Country]–[ProjectID]–[Vintage]–[Unit] · Ecological integrity assessment submitted at each verification event
Teravent Nature Credit - Serial Number Format (TNS Annex D)
TCR
–
TNS
–
ECO
–
IN
–
00314
–
2025
–
000001
Methodologies Accepted
Four approved methodology variants
TNS v1.0 Annex D approves four ecosystem-specific methodology codes, each targeting a distinct biome and degradation type. Projects may not combine ECO methodology codes within the same spatial stratum - each stratum must be assessed under a single, most-appropriate methodology. Where a project area spans two distinct ecosystem types (e.g. riparian corridor within a broader dryland landscape), separate strata with separate methodology codes and independent carbon accounting are required.
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Reference ecosystem carbon ceiling. Credits may only be issued up to the carbon stock level of the reference ecosystem at the equivalent successional age. Where a project area surpasses reference ecosystem carbon stocks - possible in heavily fertilised restoration sites - the excess is not credited. The reference ecosystem trajectory must be modelled from field-measured reference site data collected at validation, not from published literature alone.
Riparian and floodplain restoration projects recover the structure and function of native vegetation communities and hydrological processes along degraded river systems. Activities include native riparian species planting, removal of exotic invasive species, hydrological restoration through removal of drainage infrastructure or construction of small water retention structures, and livestock exclusion fencing to allow natural recovery. The reference ecosystem must be a functionally intact riparian or floodplain system within the same river catchment where possible. Hydrological function - defined by seasonal inundation pattern, water table dynamics, and surface connectivity - must be demonstrated as restored or actively recovering by the first verification event.
Permanence
Class II · Ecological
Buffer Pool
20–30% (by NPRR)
Crediting Period
30 yr + renewals
Hydrology Requirement
Inundation pattern restored or recovering by V1
Reference Site
Within same river catchment preferred
Leakage Deduction
8% default (activity-shifting)
Key Monitoring Indicators
- Vegetation cover (%) and species composition at permanent riparian plots - every 3 years
- Native vs. invasive species ratio - annual field or satellite assessment
- Aboveground and belowground tree biomass at permanent plots using species-specific allometrics
- Hydrological indicators: water table depth (monthly), seasonal flood extent (satellite), connectivity to main channel
- SOC at 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm at permanent plots - every 5 years (riparian SOC can be substantial)
- Ecological integrity score against reference ecosystem benchmarks - every 5 years at VVB verification
- Streambank stability index - measured at permanent cross-sections every 3 years
Savanna and grassland restoration projects recover native herbaceous and woody vegetation communities in degraded tropical and subtropical savannas - systems where fire, grazing pressure, invasive grasses, or repeated clearing have suppressed native ecosystem function. A mandatory fire management plan is required for all ECO-M02 projects because fire is an integral ecological process in savanna systems: suppressing all fire can drive bush encroachment that degrades the reference ecosystem type, while unmanaged high-frequency fire prevents carbon stock recovery. The plan must specify prescribed burn frequency, season, intensity targets, and emergency response protocols based on local ecology.
Permanence
Class II · Ecological
Buffer Pool
20–30% (fire-elevated)
Fire Management Plan
Mandatory - prescribed burn schedule required
Woody Encroachment
Monitored and managed against reference
Invasive Grasses
Eradication plan required where >20% cover
Leakage Deduction
10% default (livestock displacement)
Key Monitoring Indicators
- Woody cover (%) and tree/shrub density at permanent plots - every 3 years compared against reference ecosystem
- Native grass and herbaceous species richness and cover - annual transect surveys
- Fire frequency, season, and extent - satellite-detected and fire management records
- Invasive grass cover (Pennisetum, Andropogon, Buffelgrass) - annual quadrat sampling
- Tree and shrub biomass using savanna-specific allometrics - every 3 years
- SOC at 0–30 cm - every 5 years (savanna SOC often deep and stable)
- Ecological integrity score (species richness, vegetation structure, fire regime) vs. reference site - each VVB verification
Dryland ecosystem restoration targets the recovery of native plant communities in arid and semi-arid landscapes where degradation from overgrazing, fuelwood harvesting, surface mining, agricultural expansion, or repeated drought stress has removed or severely reduced native vegetation cover. Carbon accumulation rates are lower than in humid systems but the restoration values - soil stabilisation, erosion prevention, water infiltration, and biodiversity recovery - are extremely high. Native drought-adapted species must be used exclusively; exotic species are not permitted under ECO-M03. Active fire management is required where fire risk is material - particularly in Mediterranean-type dryland systems during post-rainfall vegetation growth periods.
Permanence
Class II · Ecological
Buffer Pool
20–25% (by NPRR)
Species Requirement
100% native drought-adapted species
Soil Stabilisation
Erosion monitoring mandatory in first 5 years
Fire Management
Required in Mediterranean and fire-prone dryland
Leakage Deduction
8% default
Key Monitoring Indicators
- Vegetation cover (%) and species composition at permanent transects - annual in years 1–5, every 3 years thereafter
- Native vs. exotic species ratio and invasive species incursion - annual assessment
- Soil surface stability and erosion indicators: rill density, surface crust integrity, sediment capture trap data - annual in years 1–5
- Shrub and tree biomass at permanent plots using dryland allometrics or validated IPCC defaults - every 3 years
- SOC at 0–30 cm - every 5 years (dryland SOC accumulates slowly but measurably under restored native cover)
- Ecological integrity score (vegetation cover, species diversity, soil surface condition) vs. reference - each VVB verification
- Rainfall and drought records - contextualise carbon stock variations within normal climatic variability
Upland forest restoration projects restore native multi-species forest communities in montane, sub-montane, and upland tropical or subtropical forest zones where degradation from logging, cultivation, or fire has removed or severely degraded the original forest cover. Unlike ARR-M01 (afforestation on degraded land), ECO-M04 requires a documented former forest cover history and a reference forest community that defines the target species composition. Multi-species planting is mandatory - monoculture or two-species systems do not qualify under ECO-M04. Assisted natural regeneration is permitted as a complement to planting where the seed bank and resprouting potential are sufficient to achieve the reference diversity target within the crediting period.
Permanence
Class II · Ecological
Buffer Pool
15–25% (by NPRR)
Species Diversity
≥5 native species mandatory; ≥70% reference richness target
Former Forest Req.
Documented forest cover history required
ANR Permitted
As complement to planting where viable
Leakage Deduction
8% default
Key Monitoring Indicators
- Tree species richness and composition at permanent plots - every 3 years, compared against reference ecosystem
- Structural stages present (pioneer, early secondary, mid-successional, late successional) - assessed every 5 years
- Aboveground biomass at permanent plots via species-specific or IPCC Tier 2 allometrics - every 3 years
- Canopy cover (%) via satellite NDVI and hemispherical photography - annual satellite, 5-yearly field
- SOC at 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm - every 5 years (forest SOC recovery is significant in upland tropical systems)
- Invasive species presence and cover - annual VVB or project team assessment; management plan triggered if threshold exceeded
- Ecological integrity score vs. reference ecosystem (species richness, canopy structure, SOC, hydrological function) - each VVB verification
Reference Ecosystem Framework
The reference ecosystem approach
The reference ecosystem is the defining feature of Annex D that distinguishes it from all other TNS pathways. It serves three simultaneous functions: as the carbon stock ceiling for credit issuance, as the ecological target for biodiversity and integrity monitoring, and as the baseline evidence demonstrating that the project landscape was once capable of supporting the target ecosystem type.
Function 1
Carbon Stock Ceiling
The reference ecosystem's carbon stocks - measured at the same successional stage - define the maximum credits that can be issued. Project carbon stocks approaching reference levels receive reduced issuance as the marginal gain diminishes. This prevents over-crediting in high-productivity restoration sites.
Function 2
Species Composition Target
The reference ecosystem defines the target species assemblage - the mix of native plants, functional groups, and structural layers the project must work toward. Restoration trajectories deviating significantly from reference composition trigger a management review at the next VVB verification event.
Function 3
Ecological Integrity Baseline
Five ecological integrity indicators - vegetation cover, species richness, invasive species cover, soil health index, and hydrological function - are measured at both the reference site and the project area at each verification. The project's integrity score is expressed as a percentage of the reference value.
Function 4
Historical Land Cover Evidence
The reference ecosystem provides geographically proximate evidence that the project landscape was once capable of supporting the target ecosystem type - confirming restoration plausibility and supporting the additionality case that degradation was caused by human activity, not natural aridity or soil limitation.
Ecological Integrity Indicators - Monitored at Every Verification
Vegetation Cover
% native cover vs. reference
Species Richness
Native species per plot vs. reference
Invasive Species
% cover - lower is better
Soil Health Index
SOC, bulk density, microbial biomass
Hydrological Function
Infiltration rate, water table, runoff
Structural Complexity
Canopy layers, deadwood, litter depth
Carbon Pool Accounting
Which pools must be counted
Ecosystem restoration projects must assess all carbon pools within the project boundary that are material. Unlike agricultural soil carbon (Annex C), ecosystem restoration projects typically involve significant biomass accumulation across multiple pools simultaneously - aboveground biomass, dead organic matter, and soil carbon all recover meaningfully over decadal timescales in restored terrestrial ecosystems.
Required - Primary
Aboveground Biomass (AGB)
Living tree, shrub, and woody vegetation biomass. Estimated at permanent plots using species- and ecosystem-specific allometric equations. For savanna (ECO-M02) and dryland (ECO-M03) systems, herbaceous biomass and belowground grass roots must also be assessed where material.
Required
Belowground Biomass (BGB)
Live root systems estimated from AGB using IPCC root-to-shoot ratios by ecosystem type. For ECO-M02 (savanna) and ECO-M03 (dryland), deep root systems in native grasses and shrubs may contribute substantially to below-ground carbon - enhanced BGB factors apply where published data supports them.
Required
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
Mineral soil SOC to minimum 30 cm depth; 60 cm strongly recommended for all ECO methodologies. Ecosystem restoration consistently delivers measurable SOC recovery across all four methodology variants. Dry combustion CHNS analysis with bulk density at each depth increment. Monitored every 5 years at permanent plots.
Required where advancing succession
Dead Organic Matter (DOM)
Dead wood, litter, and organic matter accumulating through ecological succession. Material in ECO-M01 (riparian), ECO-M04 (upland forest), and advancing ECO-M03 systems. Assessed by litter mass per unit area and coarse woody debris line-intercept transects at each monitoring event.
Where material - ECO-M02
Non-CO₂ GHG (CH₄, N₂O)
Relevant for ECO-M02 savanna projects where fire management plan alters fire regime significantly from baseline. Savanna fire GHG emissions (CH₄ and N₂O) must be quantified for both project and baseline fire scenarios using Teravent-approved emission factors and deducted if project fire emissions exceed baseline.
Excluded
Harvested Wood Products
HWP accounting is not applicable to ecosystem restoration projects. Any commercial timber harvesting within a registered Annex D project triggers a mandatory reassessment of project type eligibility - commercial harvest rotations must be registered under ARR-M05 (TNS Annex A).
MRV Confidence
Measurement, reporting
& verification
Ecosystem restoration MRV benefits from mature remote sensing science and well-established field ecology protocols. The reference ecosystem approach adds a layer of ecological rigour that improves confidence in trajectory projections. The principal uncertainty is non-linear carbon accumulation in early succession phases, which requires more frequent monitoring in the first 10 years.
Remote Sensing - Vegetation RecoveryVery High
Ecological Integrity MonitoringHigh
Biomass Allometric AccuracyHigh
Permanence ConfidenceHigh
Additionality ClarityHigh
SOC Recovery DetectionMedium–High
🔬 Monitoring Protocol - TNS Module 3 · Ecosystem Restoration
All Annex D projects must establish permanent monitoring plots at a minimum density of one plot per 20 ha, stratified by ecosystem type and degradation level. In the first five years, annual field visits are required at all permanent plots. From year 5 onwards, monitoring frequency shifts to every 3 years for biomass and every 5 years for SOC, with annual remote sensing (Sentinel-2 NDVI) maintained throughout. The reference ecosystem site must be measured at the same frequency as the project area using identical protocols. All field data, laboratory results, and remote sensing processing scripts must be archived and available for VVB audit for the full duration of the crediting period plus 10 years. Where ecological integrity falls below 60% of the reference ecosystem score at any verification event, a mandatory management intervention plan must be submitted within 90 days.
Additionality
Demonstrating additionality
TNS v1.0 Module 2 requires ecosystem restoration projects to satisfy all three additionality tests. The reference ecosystem approach provides natural support for the additionality case - the existence of a nearby reference ecosystem confirms both that the target ecosystem type is achievable and that human degradation, not natural climatic limitation, is the cause of the degraded baseline.
1
Regulatory Surplus Test
Active ecosystem restoration must not be mandated by any legally binding rehabilitation order, environmental court ruling, mining rehabilitation bond condition, or government-imposed restoration obligation. Where a project is located on land subject to an existing restoration obligation (e.g. a mined area with a statutory rehabilitation plan), the carbon project must demonstrably exceed what the statutory obligation requires - both in scope and in ecological ambition - to satisfy regulatory surplus. Activities funded entirely by government restoration grants must also be assessed for regulatory surplus, as the grant may itself substitute for carbon revenue and reduce additionality.
2
Financial Additionality Test
Carbon revenue must be necessary for the restoration programme to proceed at the scale and ecological ambition described in the PDD. For ecosystem restoration, a cost analysis comparing full-programme costs (ecological assessment, reference site surveys, planting materials, fencing, weed control, monitoring, VVB verification) against the baseline scenario of no intervention or minimal compliance rehabilitation must demonstrate that the carbon-funded programme is not financially viable without carbon revenue. For large government-funded restoration programmes, a test of whether any portion of the programme constitutes additionality beyond the funded activity is required.
3
Common Practice Test
Active ecological restoration of the target ecosystem type - at the scale and ecological ambition of the project - must not be common practice in the project geography. A landscape assessment covering minimum 50 km radius around the project must document the proportion of degraded land of the same type that is actively being restored without carbon finance. Passive recovery (fencing only, no active planting or management) does not count as common practice for an active restoration project and vice versa. The common practice survey must distinguish between publicly funded restoration (which may satisfy additionality where the funding does not cover the project's costs) and voluntary private-sector restoration.
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UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: Projects supported under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) framework or national equivalents may still be eligible for Teravent registration where the programme support does not cover the full cost of the ecological restoration programme and carbon revenue remains materially necessary. However, any government or inter-governmental funding received must be disclosed in the PDD and the regulatory surplus and financial additionality assessments must specifically address the interaction with the programme support.
Leakage Assessment
Leakage types & deductions
Ecosystem restoration leakage is primarily assessed through the activity-shifting lens - where restoration activities exclude previously occurring land uses (grazing, fuelwood collection, seasonal burning for agriculture) that then shift to adjacent unprotected land. The reference ecosystem approach reduces market leakage risk by confirming that no commercially productive land use is being displaced.
Activity-Shifting Leakage
Displaced Land Use
Where grazing, fuelwood collection, or subsistence agriculture is excluded from the project area, the users of these resources may shift to adjacent unprotected ecosystems. A minimum 5 km buffer zone analysis is required, documenting pre-project land use intensity and identifying likely displacement pathways. Alternative livelihood provisions within the community benefit plan can reduce assessed leakage rates.
Default: 8–15% · Assessed based on pre-project land use type and intensity
Fire Leakage - ECO-M02
Landscape Fire Displacement
For savanna restoration projects (ECO-M02), changes in prescribed burn regime within the project boundary may alter fire risk and frequency on adjacent unmanaged land. Where project fire management reduces within-boundary fire frequency, this may increase fire pressure on adjacent areas. Fire leakage is assessed using regional fire frequency data and feeds into the NPRR.
Assessed case-by-case · Elevated buffer pool where material · ECO-M02 only
Upstream Input Leakage
Restoration Input Emissions
GHG embodied in nursery production, transport, fencing materials, soil amendments, and mechanical site preparation must be assessed. For most ecosystem restoration projects these are de minimis - below 2% of gross carbon benefit. Large-scale restoration with significant mechanised soil preparation may need to include these emissions.
De minimis threshold: 2% · Excluded for most restoration projects
Hydrological Leakage - ECO-M01
Downstream Water Use Change
Riparian restoration projects (ECO-M01) that significantly increase evapotranspiration may reduce downstream water availability for agricultural users, potentially driving land use changes in water-limited downstream areas. Required only where the project area exceeds 1,000 ha and is located in a water-stressed catchment. Assessed using a simple water balance model.
Required for ECO-M01 projects >1,000 ha in water-stressed catchments
Permanence & Non-Permanence Risk
Buffer pool & reversal risk
All Annex D credits carry Class II Ecological permanence. The diverse nature of ecosystem types under Annex D means reversal risks vary significantly between methodologies. Savanna systems (ECO-M02) carry the highest fire risk while riparian systems (ECO-M01) are most sensitive to hydrological change and invasive species dynamics.
| Methodology |
NPRR Rating |
Buffer Pool Rate |
Primary Reversal Risks |
| ECO-M01 Riparian & Floodplain |
Medium |
20–25% |
Flood scour; altered upstream hydrology; invasive species; agricultural encroachment; drought |
| ECO-M02 Savanna & Grassland |
Medium–High |
20–30% |
High-frequency wildfire; invasive grass replacement; drought; land use pressure; woody encroachment reversals |
| ECO-M03 Dryland Restoration |
Medium |
20–25% |
Multi-year drought; overgrazing incursion; exotic species establishment; soil surface crust disruption |
| ECO-M04 Upland Forest Restoration |
Low–Medium |
15–20% |
Invasive species; pest or pathogen outbreak; land tenure dispute; fire in drier upland variants |
⚠️
Ecological integrity trigger: In addition to standard reversal notification, if the ecological integrity score at any verification event falls below 60% of the reference ecosystem benchmark, the project enters a mandatory Ecological Recovery Review (ERR) period. No new credits are issued during ERR. The project proponent must submit a corrective management plan within 90 days and demonstrate measurable integrity recovery within 3 years, or the project may be downgraded to a lower credit tier pending TSA review.
Eligibility Requirements
Key registration criteria
The following requirements apply to all Annex D projects. Methodology-specific requirements (fire management plan for ECO-M02, hydrological monitoring for ECO-M01, species diversity minimums for ECO-M04) are specified in the individual ECO-M code annexes within Annex D.
✓
A reference ecosystem must be identified before validation - minimum one intact or well-recovered site within 200 km, same biome, climate zone and soil class; reference site must be field-measured using the same protocols as the project area
✓
The project area must be demonstrably degraded - historical land cover documented through satellite time-series (minimum 10 years), aerial photographs, or peer-reviewed land use data showing departure from the reference ecosystem state
✓
A baseline carbon stock assessment must be completed at permanent plots before restoration activities commence - documenting all material pools against which recovery will be measured
✓
A Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) is mandatory - assessing pre-project biodiversity status and projecting restoration impacts on flora, fauna, and ecosystem function against the reference ecosystem benchmark
✓
Three-test additionality satisfied - regulatory surplus confirmed (no mandatory restoration obligation covering the project scope), financial additionality modelled, and landscape-scale common practice survey conducted covering minimum 50 km radius
✓
ECO-M02 and ECO-M03 projects in fire-prone biomes must submit a Fire Management Plan at validation specifying prescribed burn schedule, intensity targets, emergency response protocols, and responsible officers
✓
All restoration species must be native and locally provenant - exotic species are not permitted under any Annex D methodology; an invasive species management plan must be submitted where invasive species are present in the project area at baseline
✓
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) obtained where the project overlaps with indigenous or community-managed land, or where community land use rights or livelihoods may be affected
✓
Land tenure documented and secure for the full crediting period - freehold title, long-term government restoration concession, or formally recognised community stewardship agreement acceptable to the TSA
✓
Ecological integrity monitoring plan submitted with PDD - specifying the five mandatory indicators, measurement methods, reference site monitoring schedule, and the integrity threshold (60%) below which the Ecological Recovery Review process is triggered
Co-Benefits & SDGs
Sustainable Development
Goal alignment
Ecosystem restoration delivers the highest biodiversity co-benefit scores of all Teravent nature-based pathways and is uniquely positioned to generate watershed, soil stabilisation, and community livelihood co-benefits simultaneously. Ten SDGs are tracked, with Biodiversity+ and Water+ labels most frequently applicable. Indigenous Stewardship projects under ECO-M02 and ECO-M04 can achieve the full suite of co-benefit labels.
SDG 15 · Life on Land
SDG 13 · Climate Action
SDG 6 · Clean Water
SDG 1 · No Poverty
SDG 2 · Zero Hunger
SDG 3 · Good Health
SDG 8 · Decent Work
SDG 11 · Sustainable Cities
SDG 14 · Life Below Water
SDG 17 · Partnerships
Biodiversity+
Ecosystem restoration projects achieving net positive biodiversity outcomes - verified through independent flora and fauna surveys at validation and each 5-year verification event, demonstrating convergence toward the reference ecosystem species composition - are eligible for Biodiversity+. Annex D projects are the most frequently awarded Biodiversity+ label of all Teravent pathways.
Water+
Riparian and floodplain projects (ECO-M01) and dryland restoration projects (ECO-M03) that demonstrably improve downstream water quality, reduce sediment load, improve infiltration, or stabilise seasonal streamflow are eligible for Water+. Annual water quality monitoring with data submitted at each VVB verification is required.
Indigenous Stewardship
Restoration projects led or co-designed by indigenous communities using traditional ecological knowledge - with FPIC documented throughout, community governance of the restoration programme, and community members active in monitoring - are eligible for the Indigenous Stewardship label at Premium and Frontier tiers.
Livelihoods+
Restoration projects generating verified income diversification or employment for surrounding communities - through restoration labour, nursery operations, ecotourism potential, non-timber forest products, or sustainable harvest of restoration co-products - with documented community income data verified annually are eligible for Livelihoods+.
Priority regions: India (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Deccan Plateau, floodplain corridors of Ganga, Godavari, Krishna), Sub-Saharan Africa (Congo Basin margins, East African montane systems, Sahel dryland zone), Southeast Asia (Mekong floodplains, Sundaland dry forests), and Latin America (Cerrado savannas, Atlantic Forest fragments, Andean dryland corridors) - where ecosystem degradation is most severe, biodiversity value is highest, and transformation potential for communities and landscapes is greatest.
