Landmark report provides new clarity on biodiversity credit market

LIFE Biodiv CrEW identifies two schemes to pilot in European wetlands

6. March 2026 – Since the European Commission published its “Roadmap towards Nature Credits” in the summer of 2025, nature credit schemes of all kinds are increasingly in the spotlight for conservationists and policymakers. Within the complex landscape of conservation finance mechanisms, with differing benefits for ecosystems, climate and species, biodiversity credits occupy a special niche.

Ideally, these credit schemes represent a powerful tool to align stakeholder interests and contribute to the funding of critically needed conservation projects for biodiversity uplift. But the market is in its infancy, with a dizzying array of methodologies and standards of varying value and applicability for the European wetland context.

A major milestone for the biodiversity credit market

NABU and its expert partners stepped into that market and knowledge gap with LIFE Biodiv CrEW, a LIFE-co-funded project seeking to assess the existing biodiversity credit market, test selected schemes in pilot sites and provide key learnings and recommendations for broader uptake.

With the publication of a new benchmarking report, the project consortium has reached a landmark milestone along that path. Simas Gradeckas, CEO and co-founder of project partner bloomlabs, which spearheaded the report, described it as their most ambitious work yet, reviewing over 90 biodiversity credit schemes. “We have been analysing biodiversity credit schemes for almost three years, but it was the first time we conducted such a comprehensive stocktake and assessment of virtually every possible scheme”, explained Gradeckas. “We hope it brings more clarity on how biodiversity credit systems can be applied in European wetlands.”

From mapping to scheme selection

The report lays out the process of mapping and systematically reviewing all relevant voluntary biodiversity credit schemes, defining best practice parameters and assessment criteria, and subsequently applying these criteria to identify the most suitable schemes for piloting in European wetlands.

Out of 91 schemes identified and screened, eight were pre-selected and analysed in depth across 60 parameters. Two schemes were ultimately selected for piloting within LIFE Biodiv CrEW: Verra's SD VISta Nature Framework and Wallacea Trust. These two schemes distinguish themselves in their broad applicability across wetland types, their attractiveness for potential buyers, and their feasibility for piloting within the project timeline.

NABU biodiversity finance officer and project lead Anke Fischer emphasised the care, diligence and rigorous analytical work invested in a fair and transparent screening and selection. The process integrated the perspectives of diverse stakeholders, including landowners, conservationists, the public and private sectors. “Verra and Wallacea are promising with regard to our priorities as nature conservationists, and simultaneously appear practical for project developers and potential buyers”, said Fischer. “We hope to gain further valuable insights in our next steps, through the pilot projects testing certification and purchases of biodiversity credits.”

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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