Ecosystem Restoration Standard (ERS), an ICVCM1 approved carbon standard focused on nature-based solutions, today announced the acquisition of Equitable Earth – a pioneering forest carbon standard that integrates technical innovation and conservation best practices with the priorities of Indigenous Peoples, traditional communities and governments, particularly in the Global South.
Equitable Earth is designed to halt deforestation and secure the long-term protection of the world’s forests by ensuring fair and meaningful investment in the people and communities who safeguard them. The standard was developed by a coalition of over 125 individuals representing more than 60 organisations, which included technical and market experts working in close partnership with Indigenous and traditional community leaders.
Today’s acquisition by ERS represents the achievement of the coalition’s goal to ensure that Equitable Earth would be operated as a fully independent, high-integrity, community-rooted initiative to catalyse a new era for the voluntary carbon market, built on principles defined by Indigenous and traditional community leaders and brought to life by some of the world’s most experienced REDD+2 practitioners.
“From the beginning, Equitable Earth was built on the conviction that Indigenous and traditional communities must be co-creators of credible and just solutions to halt deforestation, and that private finance must align with their leadership, rights and ancestral knowledge. In ERS, we found a partner that shares this belief and brings the technical infrastructure, governance and operational capacity to take the standard forward. Guided by years of consultation with communities, we’re proud to have incubated Equitable Earth. We now hand it over with confidence that ERS will bring the standard to market while ensuring the priorities of forest communities remain at its center,” said Beto Borges, Director of the Communities and Territorial Governance Initiative at Forest Trends, and Chair of the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Guidance Council for the Equitable Earth Coalition.
“The acquisition of Equitable Earth significantly expands our mission, moving beyond restoration to urgently protect standing forests, critical carbon sinks, and the cultural heritage they hold. By applying the highest levels of transparency and scientific rigour, we will deliver a trusted standard for high-quality REDD+ credits that the market can rely on,” said Thibault Sorret, CEO at ERS. “Last year’s 80% increase in tropical primary forest loss is a stark warning: protecting the world’s forests can no longer wait. This acquisition allows ERS to meet that urgency, halt forest loss, and accelerate a clear path forward for REDD+ project developers.”
The importance of this community-centric approach was underscored by Dayanne Tenharim, President of APITEM, who stated, “As an indigenous leader of a community that is considering using REDD+ to bring conservation revenues to our territory, I am happy to see Equitable Earth moving forward. It was clear from the consultation workshop I attended that the platform is being built with integrity and based on the voices and priorities of indigenous communities and traditional communities, who are on the front lines and are the first to feel the negative impacts of human actions.”
Adding to this perspective, Maricar Yawanawa, from Associação Sociocultural Yawanawa, shared, “I’m pleased to see the development of this new standard that finally takes the needs and rights of Indigenous territories seriously. It was meaningful to be part of the consultation process, which showed real commitment to community-led solutions.”
1Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market.
2 Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. The ‘+’ stands for additional forest-related activities that protect the climate, namely sustainable management of forests and the conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
