What are Natural Capital Credits?

Natural Capital Credits (NCCs) are the carbon credit units issued to NFS certified projects.  Each NCC denotes that 1 metric tonne of CO2e emissions have been avoided by NFS jurisdictional REDD project,s that also protect biodiversity and are socially responsible.

NCCs are unique to the NFS and can only be issued by the NFS Crediting Program.

NCCs are issued to the NFS Registry where they may be held, traded and retired.

NCCs are only issued to denote emission reductions and removals that are:

  • Real and additional
  • Based on robust, transparent baselines, monitoring and reporting
  • Address carbon leakage and risk of reversals
  • Validated and verified by approved third parties
  • Checked to avoid double counting
  • Protective of biodiversity
  • Socially responsible

What is Natural Capital?

Natural Capital is the collective term for Earth’s natural assets and the Ecosystem Services resulting from them, which make human life possible (Natural Capital Declaration, 2012). Ecosystem Services which result from Natural Capital form the foundation for all human economic activity including food, water and energy.

Projects that are successfully verified under the Natural Forest Standard are issued with Natural Capital Credits (NCCs).

The Natural Forest Standard aims to conserve and restore natural forests through actions that benefit local communities and indigenous people. The Natural Forest Standard integrates all of the components that are vital in protecting Natural Capital. Carbon, Biodiversity and Social benefits are accounted for under the standard making it a holistic approach to the conservation of Natural Capital.

Please see our papers below for more information on Natural Capital and the Natural Forest Standard.

NFS Registry Update – 29th April 2025

ECO NFS has appointed Northern Trust to administer Natural Capital Credits.  Read the Full Press Release Here

The Northern Trust Carbon Ecosystem™ will provide lifecycle management for the Natural Capital Credits issued under the Natural Forest Standard.  This development marks our commitment to provide full lifecycle management of all digital carbon credits today and in the future, ensuring transparency and traceability for all Natural Capital Credits issued to projects verified under the Natural Forest Standard.

There will be a transition period between the registry platforms, based on a phased roll-out, and all current registry users will be contacted.

If you have any questions, please use the form on our Contact Page.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Natural Capital Credits (NCCs) are only tracked and transacted through ECO NFS approved platforms.  Any NCCs that are listed or made available via alternative registries, platforms or channels are not authorised and are in no way authentic and should be reported to the NFS Registry Administration Team immediately here.