An international framework for measurable, verified and integrity-adjusted ecological outcomes in natural and nature-based systems.
The Biosphere Credit Standard™ – Framework is an international, scientifically grounded, transparent and verifiable framework for assessing verified outcomes arising from the improvement, restoration, conservation and durable ecological functioning of natural and nature-based systems. The standard covers projects and programmes that create measurable and verifiable positive change in areas including biodiversity, ecosystem condition, ecological functions, landscape connectivity, resilience, soil and water systems.
Project activity alone does not generate a credit. The credit is based on a defined, measurable and verifiable ecological outcome.
The assessment is not based on a single universal indicator: an appropriate set of indicators must be defined for the ecosystem and objective concerned.
Biodiversity, ecosystem condition, functions, connectivity, resilience and related environmental attributes must be interpreted in their interrelationships.
A Biosphere Credit™ is a registered and issued unit linked to a defined, verified and integrity-appropriate Biosphere Outcome Equivalent.
The ecological change in state or function resulting from the project must be measured or reliably modelled using appropriate indicators and methods.
The measured result must be transformed to a reproducible, methodologically defined scale, where 0 represents no relevant improvement and 1 represents the full relevant outcome.
The BOE calculation may account for the relevance and temporal durability of the ecological outcome through predefined and reproducible factors.
The Integrity Adjustment may account, among other factors, for measurement, baseline and attribution uncertainty, data quality, leakage, reversal risk and verification findings.
In BCS™ v1.1, 1 Biosphere Credit™ = 1 standardized, verified and integrity-adjusted Biosphere Outcome Equivalent.
A BCS™ is not 1 hectare, not 1 hectare-year, not 1 tonne CO₂e and not a biodiversity point. The credit is a common accounting unit for verified additional ecological outcome.
BCS™ represents not the size of the project, but the verified additional ecological outcome created by the project. The general calculation logic is: BC = VBO × N × R × D × IA, where VBO is the Verified Biosphere Outcome, N is the Normalized Outcome, R is the Relevance Factor, D is the Duration Factor, and IA is the Integrity Adjustment. The specific parameters must be defined in detail by each approved project methodology.
BCS™ is not based on a single environmental indicator. Depending on the ecosystem and project objective, multiple scientifically justified outcome dimensions may be assessed.
Species richness, species composition, abundance, the status of threatened species, functional and genetic diversity, and ecological relationships.
Structure, functions, habitat condition, degradation, connectivity, resilience and key ecological processes.
Nutrient cycling, pollination, decomposition, water retention, soil formation, carbon cycling and natural regeneration.
Habitat corridors, connections between habitats, fragmentation, species movement and landscape-level ecological processes.
Organic carbon and organic matter, structure, water retention, erosion, biological activity and nutrient cycles.
Water retention, infiltration, water quality, groundwater balance, surface water flows, and downstream and upstream effects.
Measurable change in an ecosystem’s ability to maintain and restore structure and function after disturbances.
Restoration aims to improve a degraded condition, while conservation aims to avoid or reduce expected deterioration.
It can be credited only where an appropriate baseline and additionality are demonstrated and degradation would reasonably have been expected without the project.
A carbon outcome may be treated as a separate environmental attribute; overlapping attributes must be documented in the Registry.
The BCS™ causal chain separates project activity from measurable outcome, verification and credit issuance.
An ecological intervention carried out in a defined area and period according to a defined methodology.
A measurable change in ecological state or function resulting from the project, with a demonstrated causal relationship.
An ecological outcome determined to be verified based on monitoring and assessment by a suitably competent, independent verifier.
Demonstration of a credible counterfactual, dynamic baseline and additional outcome relative to the expected condition without the project.
Normalization of the outcome, assessment of its relevance and durability, and application of the Integrity Adjustment.
Independent verification covering eligibility, baseline, additionality, measurement data, calculations, safeguards and double counting.
OurOffset assesses whether the verified outcome meets BCS™ requirements and is eligible for BC™ issuance.
Once the requirements are met, a traceable credit with a unique identifier may be issued.
BCS™ treats baseline and measurement uncertainty, attribution, leakage, durability, reversal risk, safeguards requirements and double-counting risk as core integrity considerations.
Data accuracy, completeness, timeliness, spatial representativeness and methodological conformity must be managed through a quality assurance system.
The baseline may account for historical and regional trends, control areas, land use, natural regeneration, and climatic, economic and regulatory changes.
The project must identify whether its outcome could cause negative ecological effects or displaced pressures in another area or system.
The expected durability of the credited outcome and the risk of its loss must be managed. The buffer ratio must be determined based on the project risk profile.
Unjustified multiple accounting of the same environmental outcome is prohibited. Double issuance, double counting, double claiming, double use and overlapping claims must be addressed separately.
DNSH, human rights, the rights of local and Indigenous communities, land-use and property rights, and appropriate community participation are part of project integrity.
2026 revised and expanded edition · International scope · OurOffset Nonprofit LLC
The 2026 edition establishes a new credit architecture, dynamic baseline, additionality requirements, ecological outcome-based crediting, an uncertainty and Integrity Adjustment system, safeguards requirements, double-counting controls, durability and reversal-risk rules, Registry-Level Assessment, a claims framework and system-level ecological impact assessment.
Request access to the full framework documentation, or submit the basic details of your ecological project for preliminary assessment.
Request information about access to the full documentation, professional use, project application or collaboration.
Submit the basic details of your ecological project or programme for preliminary assessment under the Biosphere Credit Standard™.