GCS - Global Conservation Standard

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the allowable activities within the Conservation Area?

Permitted activities include the rehabilitation of degraded areas by eradication of invasive species (e.g. Imperata grasses), the planting of indigenous pioneer species and native species with the intention to restore the area to its near-natural habitat for long-term conservation. Also traditional uses by indigenous populations are acceptable.

2. What are the activities within the Commercial Buffer Zone?

Activities that are beneficial to the local communities and those that do not harm environmental or social values such as agroforestry, small-scale community driven plantations, cash-crops and other land use that are in line with principles and criteria of the GCS.

3. Am I actually conserving the natural habitat by purchasing Conservation Credit Units?

Yes, CCUs are increasing the value of the natural habitat and as a direct result, the landowners and local populations are profiting from the commercial zone activities. By purchasing CCUs, there is a direct effect on the restoration or rehabilitation of the natural environment.

4. What are Conservation Credit Units?

Units to measure the volume of ecosystem service conservation directly related to project activity. CCUs are scientifically sound and 3rd party verified and valid for one-year. This creates a capital pool and offers commercial returns and brand equity enhancement.

5. How are Conservation Credit Units calculated?

CCUs are equitable to the approved ecosystem service methodology to which the conservation area is approved. CCUs can be in the form of carbon, biodiversity, water, nutrient, etc. and there are no restrictions to a single area hosting CCUs from more than one approved methodology simultaneously. CCUs are purchased on an annual basis for the duration of the project timeframe. The current price of one CCU is Euro € 0.21.

6. What types of Conservation Credit Units are possible?

CCUs may be stem from ecosystem services from the following ecosystem service functions:

• Carbon
• Methodology 1: Above-Ground Carbon
• Methodology 2: Below-Ground Carbon (under development)
• Water (under development)
• Biodiversity (under development)
• Nutrient (under development)