February 2025 Stakeholder Update
Biodiversity metrics, stakeholder survey, and organizational transition
Dear Stakeholders,
In our February 2025 Stakeholder Working Group meeting, we covered several topics related to BCarbon's development and future direction. These ranged from our upcoming leadership transition to our increasing focus on biodiversity and ecosystem benefits. Please read on for our meeting recap, as well as a link to fill out the 2025 BCarbon stakeholder survey!
We began our meeting with a presentation from Research Manager James FitzGerald on BCarbon's approach to biodiversity scoring for carbon credits. James detailed our draft framework for assigning biodiversity scores to carbon credit projects, which is based on direct observation and measurement. The system is designed to be accessible to average landowners while remaining scientifically rigorous. The framework evaluates four taxonomic groups (insects, birds, mammals, and plants), with plans to add additional categories including reptiles, amphibians, fish, and fungi. Each group is scored on species richness and abundance/activity, with bonus points for threatened and endangered species.
The presentation outlined potential methodologies for surveying each taxonomic group, including sweep netting and pitfall trapping for insects, point counts and bioacoustics for birds, camera trapping for mammals, and transect surveys for plants. Importantly, the biodiversity scoring system is not designed for biodiversity offsetting or to claim net biodiversity gain, but rather as a market mechanism to encourage positive biodiversity outcomes. We are especially interested in exploring its application to habitats home to endangered species such as whooping cranes and golden-cheeked warblers.
We had a productive Q&A session following the presentation. Thanks to everyone who asked questions and provided feedback. In the coming months, we will share a draft methodology for review and comment by the Stakeholder Working Group, so stay tuned!
CEO Jim Blackburn then presented on the state of the Voluntary Carbon Market, highlighting the current lack of comprehensive climate change legislation and the resulting emergence of “pseudo-regulatory” bodies like ICVCM, ICROA, and CORSIA. He discussed how this regulatory environment affects and in some cases impedes organizations like BCarbon, which take creative approaches to carbon crediting.
Jim outlined various approaches to additionality across BCarbon's protocol areas, including soil carbon, forest carbon, blue carbon, and well plugging. He emphasized the importance of scale in the voluntary carbon market, noting the need for approximately 500 million tons of nature-based credits by 2030 to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon footprint after avoidance and minimization measures.
The meeting concluded with a discussion of BCarbon's upcoming organizational transition. After more than five years as CEO of BCarbon, Jim announced he will be stepping away from this role later this year. Jim’s passion for BCarbon’s vision and mission has brought us to where we are today. As we move forward, he will remain involved, including by continuing to serve on our Board of Directors.
Survey + Opportunities for Stakeholder Engagement
As we approach this period of transition, we want to lean on you all, as BCarbon stakeholders, for support and guidance. We are forming Strategic Planning and Finance Committees, which will be led by members of our Board; we would also like to include stakeholders in each committee. If you are interested in participating in either, please reach out to Sarah to let her know!
Second, to learn more about how each of you engage with BCarbon and inform our planning for the future, we are conducting a stakeholder survey: you can fill it out here. It covers areas including stakeholders' work, interest in carbon markets, engagement with BCarbon meetings, and perspectives on the organization's value and future trajectory. Responses are requested by March 14.
You can view the full slideshow from last week’s meeting here:
Here’s our upcoming Full-Group Meeting schedule:
April 10, 9 AM CT
June 12, 9 AM CT
We will also convene a few subcommittee meetings in the coming months, whose dates will be announced soon:
Methane - March 5, 10 AM CT
Biochar (new group)
Small landowner forest/soil protocol development (new group)
Additionality (new group)
To be added to any of these meetings / groups, please contact Sarah (Sarah.Swackhamer@BCarbon.org)
All meetings held via Zoom.
You can also access our upcoming schedule any time on our website’s events page.
Thank you as always for your support and participation in our work! If you have questions, comments, ideas, or concerns, please feel free to email, call, text, or set up a Zoom.
Best,
BCarbon