Resilience Constellation is a company dedicated to improving the use of geospatial data to address climate change impacts and other environmental challenges. Our team has decades of experience working with governments, space agencies and development agencies support improved decision making and financial allocations.
Resilience Constellation is co-ordinating development efforts on the NFS to ensure it becomes widely recognised crediting system that contributes to the protection and restoration of natural forests at scale. This activity includes running many of the day to day processes around the operation of the standard.
Ecosystem Certification Organisation (ECO) is a not-for-profit organisation that is the governing body of the Natural Forest Standard (NFS). For the past ten years, ECO has overseen the early development of the standard and its application within the landmark Trocano project in Amazonia.
Independent Experts
The NFS acknowledges the input of a number of independent experts in its design, development and application. We welcome approaches from relevant experts who are able to advise on a range of relevant issues.
Dr Nicholas Berry; Ecometrica / The Landscapes & Livelihoods Group
Marissa Camargo; Indufor / Sustainability Advisory
Jeffrey Hayward; Rainforest Alliance / Wildlife Works
Catriona Clunas; Ecometrica / FCDO
Dr Neha Hunka; Ecometrica / University of Maryland
Duncan Macqueen; International Institute for Environment and Development
Professor Ed Mitchard; University of Edinburgh
Professor Patrick Meir; University of Edinburgh
Dr Lucio Pedroni; Carbon Decisions International
Professor Rupert Seidl; University of Oregon / Technische Universität München
Dr Karin Viergever; Ecometrica / Shell
(Experts are listed in alphabetical order, their organisation affiliation when first inputting to NFS development is listed first, followed by latest affiliation, if changed).
Technology Providers
The NFS uses a number of technology partners to streamline the processing and delivery of geospatial data products. We welcome approaches from providers of data and processing technologies who may be able to improve the accuracy, speed or cost-effectiveness of forest monitoring.
Ecometrica is a leading provider of software solutions for sustainability, including a powerful geospatial platform that allows the organisation and analysis of rasterised map products.
Day to Day Operations
The Natural Forest Standard crediting program is operated by Resilience Constellation under the supervision of Ecosystem Certification Organisation, with support from relevant experts in forest conservation, ecosystem services, social issues, as required. The operational functions include:
- Ensuring the operation of technical and risk panels
- Maintenance of website and communication channels
- Administration of project registration and updates
- Approval of verifiers
- Administration of crediting process
- The NFS operations team shall approve methods, maps, data and guidance for use based on recommendations from the NFS Technical Panel
Approval of Methods, Maps, Data and Guidance
Technical Panel
The Technical Panel, appointed by the Board, reviews and approves carbon maps, risk maps (for baseline purposes), and reviews and improves guidance and methodological materials.
The Technical Panel comprises of independent specialists with relevant expertise.
In making recommendations for approval and use methods, maps, data and guidance, the Technical Panel shall consider:
- The quality of underlying evidence used to generate maps and reference data
- The acceptance or use of maps and reference data by official bodies or other organisations
- The transparency of methods used to generate the maps and reference data
- The temporal and spatial relevance to the proposed project areas
In making recommendations to be used the Technical Panel shall consider the potential for both Type 1 and Type 2 errors in the application of assumptions and methods.
Risk Panel
The Risk Panel, appointed by the Board, determines appropriate levels of credits to be held within the reserve accounts of the NFS projects.
The Risk Panel comprises of independent specialists with relevant expertise.