What Are Nature-Based Carbon Credits and Why Do Buyers Want Them?
Nature-based carbon credits come from projects that protect, manage or restore natural ecosystems such as forests, mangroves, peatlands and grasslands. They are among the most popular credits in the voluntary carbon market, because they combine climate action with benefits for biodiversity and communities. If you are looking for a nature based carbon credit supplier, here is what you should know.
Types of nature-based credits
Avoidance credits come from projects that stop emissions happening, such as protecting a forest from being cleared (REDD+) or reducing logging (IFM).
Removal credits come from projects that take carbon out of the atmosphere, such as reforestation, mangrove restoration and soil carbon projects.
Both play a role. Avoiding the loss of intact forest protects carbon that can never be quickly replaced, while removals help address residual emissions.
Why buyers choose nature-based credits
- Co-benefits: Protecting habitat for threatened species, securing water catchments and supporting community livelihoods.
- Tangible stories: Employees, customers and investors connect with real forests and real people.
- Scale: Nature-based solutions can deliver a meaningful share of the emission reductions needed this decade.
- Alignment with nature goals: Growing interest in nature-related disclosure (such as the TNFD framework) is increasing demand.
The risks, and how to manage them
Nature-based credits carry specific risks: fire, disease, illegal logging and inaccurate baselines. Good projects manage these with conservative carbon accounting, buffer pool contributions, strong monitoring and deep community partnerships. See our buyer’s checklist for high-quality credits for what to look for.
Why buy directly from a developer?
Buying from a supplier that develops its own projects gives you greater traceability, clearer information about co-benefits and confidence that more of your investment reaches the ground.
Nature-based credits from Asia Pacific Carbon
Asia Pacific Carbon develops forest carbon projects across Asia and the Pacific that protect some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. Explore our nature-based carbon credits.