Our Achievements
Leaders in market-based mechanisms for sustainability
Ekos BioCredita is the first biodiversity credit programme globally to be validated to the High-Level Principles (HLP) of the Biodiversity Credit Alliance, World Economic Forum, and the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (BCA/WEF/IAPB).
BioCredita is also one of the leaders in biodiversity credit transaction volumes according to global nature market analytics firm Bloomlabs.
BioCredita Programme: A world first
Leading Regenerative Forestry
Over 80 regenerative forest carbon projects throughout Aotearoa. Includes native forest and exotic forest transitioning to native forest. Working with farmers, corporations, and Māori landowners.
Setting the standard with the NZ Regenerative Forestry Standard.
Carbon-Related Claim Certifier
We are the leading privately owned certifier for carbon related claims in Aotearoa. We are also the only business sustainability consulting firm offering a fully integrated service from carbon inventory and reduction plans, strategic carbon management, climate resilience planning, forest carbon project development in Aotearoa and internationally, and biodiversity credit programme operator (BioCredita).
Pioneered
Rainforest conservation carbon projects in the Pacific Islands
We led the technical elements of the first rainforest carbon projects in Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.
We also played the role of lead policy and technical consultants to the governments of Fiji and Vanuatu during the development of their national forest carbon programmes.
Published
2025
2024
2023
2022
2022
2021
Ekos NZ Regenerative Forestry Standard v1.0. A standard to enable third-party verification of regenerative forestry and transition forestry in Aotearoa.
2026
2025
Ekos Carbon Management Standard v3.1: Ekos upgraded our carbon certification rules for our Carbon Management programme for organisations. Validated to the following standards: ISO 14040:2006/14044:2006; EN 15804 and ISO 21930:2017; ISO/TS 14064-1; ISO 14020:2000; ISO 14025:2010; ISO 17065:2012; ISO 19011:2018
Book Chapter: 'Forests climate change and indigenous knowledge. Reflecting indigenous ontologies in the economics of restoration'. Publisher: Springer.
Academic Paper: 'Carbon financed natural regeneration' in the New Zealand Journal of Forestry.
Academic Paper: 'Climate forestry and national climate policy' in the New Zealand Journal of Forestry.
Academic Paper: 'Investment barriers to indigenous forest climate solutions' in the New Zealand Journal of Forestry.
Academic Paper: 'Carbon financed conservation forestry' in the New Zealand Journal of Forestry.
Ekos SD Standard v1.0. A biodiversity credit standard validated to Biodiversity Credit Alliance, World Economic Forum, International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits (BCA/WEF/IAPB).
Thought Leadership
2020-2026
2023-2026
Conference Presentations: Presented at the following conferences: Corporate Investments in Forestry and Biodiversity (London), Pacific Climate Resilience Symposium; Carbon Forestry Conference; WOW Summit, Environmental Forestry Conference; Marlborough Climate Action Week; VUW Ecological Restoration Conference; Red Meat Sector Conference; Delivering Sustainability and Climate Reporting Conference; Decarbonising NZ Conference; EDS Conference; Aspire Conference; Sustainable Healthcare and Climate Health; CALLANZ Conference; ANZ Emissions Reduction Summit; CEP Conference; Net Zero Carbon Workshop; One Stop Accounting Conference; The Emissions Workshop.
Policy Leadership: Played a leadership role in government consultations for voluntary nature markets and the national debate on indigenous forests vs exotic forests in the NZETS.
Designer
2012-2020
2018
Nakau Programme: Co-founded and co-designed the Nakau Programme - a forest carbon programme for the Pacific Islands. Ekos led the technical elements of programme design and carbon accounting methodologies validated to the Plan Vivo Standard. This work was undertaken in partnership with Live and Learn International and Nakau - both were great teams to work with.
Adaptation Benefit Mechanism: Co-designed the Adaptation Benefit Mechanism for the African Development Bank. This is a market-based mechanism for climate change adaptation and resilience.
International Validation & Verification
2019
2019
2016
2015
2014
2014
2013
2013
2013
2012
International Verification: Second verification of the Rarakau Rainforest Carbon Project, including upgrading to the Plan Vivo Standard (UK).
International Verification: Led the successful validation, verification, and credit issuance of the Babatana Rainforest Carbon Project, Choiseul, Solomon Islands in partnership with Nakau which Ekos formerly co-owned. This was the first forest carbon project in the Solomon Islands.
International Verification: Led the successful validation, verification, and credit issuance of the Loru Forest Carbon Project, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. This was in partnership with Nakau which Ekos co-founded and formerly co-owned. This was the first forest carbon project in Vanuatu. This project went on to win the UN Equator Prize in 2019.
International Verification: Led the successful validation, verification, and credit issuance of the Drawa Rainforest Carbon Project, Vanua Levu, Fiji. This was in partnership with Nakau which Ekos co-founded and formerly co-owned. This was the first rainforest carbon project in Fiji. In 2015, the Drawa project won the SPREP-SPC Award for Excellence in Implementing Island Ecosystem Management Principles. In 2020, it won the 2020 International Energy Globe Award for Fiji. Both of these awards were due to the excellent work of Nakau in supporting these rural communities.
International Validation: Designed the Nakau Avoided Deforestation (AD-DtPF) Methodology. Validated to the Plan Vivo Standard.
International Validation: Designed the Nakau Improved Forest Management (IFM-DtTF) Methodology. Validated to the Plan Vivo Standard.
International Validation: Rarakau Rainforest Carbon Project validated to the ISO 14064-2 Standard, validated by DNV-GL, and registered in Markit Environmental Registry (NY).
International Validation: Designed the Nakau Improved Forest Management (IFM-LtPF) Methodology. Validated to the Plan Vivo Standard.
International Validation: Co-designed the Nakau Methodology Framework - a high-level module for forest carbon project development in the Pacific Islands. Validated to the Plan Vivo Standard. Co-design partner: Live and Learn Environmental Education.
International Validation: Developed the Rarakau Methodology for Improved Forest Management in New Zealand. Validated to the ISO 1464-2 standard.