The goodcarbon Originals Fact Sheet: How Originals Are Redefining Nature-Based Carbon Credits

We founded goodcarbon to restore nature as a powerful climate solution—grounded in science, transparency, and long-term impact. But the reality is clear: the current carbon market isn’t delivering the abundance of high-quality, nature-based solutions our planet urgently needs. Too many projects prioritize carbon accounting over true ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, and community resilience. That’s why we created goodcarbon Originals—a new category of high-integrity, transparent, and science-backed carbon projects. Learn more about goodcarbon Originals in the frequently asked questions: 

1. What are goodcarbon Originals, and how do they differ from other carbon projects?

goodcarbon Originals are a new category of high-integrity, nature-based carbon projects designed to restore biodiversity, support communities, and set new standards in carbon markets. Unlike many existing projects, Originals do not optimize for carbon alone but create multi-species, resilient ecosystems with strict transparency, long-term impact, and science-backed methodologies.

2. Why did goodcarbon introduce Originals, and what gap do they fill in the carbon market?

The voluntary carbon market is failing to meet demand for high-quality, nature-based solutions. Despite rising interest, supply remains limited, and many existing projects lack transparency, measurable impact, and long-term effectiveness.

After reviewing 150+ projects and talking to our clients, we identified key market gaps:

• Qualitative nature-based solutions are scarce, even as demand rises.
• Many carbon projects lack credibility, failing to deliver tangible environmental and social benefits.
• Corporations struggle to find carbon credits that incorporate biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and social integrity, rather than just carbon sequestration.

To bridge this gap, goodcarbon Originals were created—setting a new benchmark for transparency, science-backed impact, and equitable benefit-sharing. Originals do not optimize for carbon alone; they restore entire ecosystems, empower local communities, and aim for a 50% of benefit sharing to those safeguarding nature.

3. How do goodcarbon Originals effectively mitigate climate change and restore biodiversity?

Originals go beyond carbon sequestration. They restore degraded ecosystems in regions of high biodiversity relevance, ensuring habitat regeneration for endangered species. Projects like The People’s Chaka in Ethiopia will restore 7,000 hectares of forest, capturing 2.3 million tons of CO₂ over 40 years while protecting 200+ bird species and improving livelihoods for 300,000 people. This region, part of the Eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, has suffered extensive deforestation, leading to severe land degradation, biodiversity loss, and increased vulnerability to climate-related disasters such as landslides and soil erosion. With strong government backing and alignment with international climate and biodiversity commitments, the project serves as a scalable model for nature-based solutions, balancing climate action, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable rural development in Ethiopia.

4. What quality standards do goodcarbon Originals adhere to, and how do they exceed existing benchmarks?

goodcarbon Originals uphold the highest scientific, environmental, and social integrity standards, exceeding the requirements of conventional carbon credit frameworks. We collaborate with leading certification bodies such as Verra with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standards (CCB) to ensure credibility, while also surpassing their benchmarks for impact and transparency.

We actively monitor official quality guidelines like ICVCM and the Core Carbon Principles, integrating their key elements into our own rigorous framework while setting a new benchmark for quality, integrity, and long-term impact. Additionally, we leverage IUCN data to assess biodiversity quality criteria, such as identifying threatened species present in project regions, ensuring our initiatives drive meaningful ecological restoration.

Key Differentiators:

• Biodiversity-first approach – Originals restore entire ecosystems, not just plant trees for carbon credit optimization. Only native species are used, ensuring long-term resilience.
• Conservative carbon credit calculations – We avoid overestimation by applying conservative science-based methodologies, satellite monitoring, and field verification.
• Equitable benefit-sharing – Our goal is that that at least 50% of carbon credit revenues go to local communities.
• Full transparency – All project data, including financial flows, carbon calculations, and buyer disclosures, is accessible to buyers and investors.
• Long-term ecosystem impact – Projects are designed to last indefinitely, ensuring the benefits outlive their crediting period.
• Comprehensive monitoring – We employ remote sensing, ground-truthing, and third-party validation to track land use, biodiversity, and social impacts with precision. Our advanced biodiversity measurement and monitoring go beyond standard tracking, ensuring deeper insights and greater accountability.

5. What are the benefits of purchasing goodcarbon Originals for corporations?

• Risk-assured, high-quality carbon credits: Originals meet all important standards and exceed them with full transparency, science-based impact verification, and conservative carbon calculations to avoid overestimations.
• Beyond carbon: Originals not only sequester CO₂ but also restore biodiversity, protect endangered species, and empower local communities with a minimum 50% revenue share.
• Brand credibility & leadership: Join industry leaders like Apple, Microsoft, and other global corporations by investing in high-quality, transparent, and scientifically verified nature-based solutions (NbS).
• Regulatory & voluntary compliance: Stay ahead of emerging regulations (like: CSRD, SBTi, net-zero commitments, and others) by investing in nature-based solutions that meet the highest standards.
• Compliance, financial transparency & accountability: See exactly where every dollar is spent, with full buyer, investor, and financial transparency.

By choosing goodcarbon Originals, corporations secure verified, high-impact carbon credits that support true climate action, compliance, and corporate sustainability goals.

6. Why should investors consider goodcarbon Originals, and what advantages do they offer?

Investors should consider goodcarbon Originals because they offer high-quality, verifiable assets that adhere to the strictest environmental and social integrity frameworks. Unlike traditional carbon credits, Originals represent a new sustainable investment category, providing investors not only with an attractive financial return but also a measurable positive impact on biodiversity and social development.

Additionally, Originals deliver diversified impact, combining climate mitigation, biodiversity restoration, and socio-economic development. They also minimize financial and reputational risks through rigorous due diligence, continuous monitoring, and third-party verification, ensuring long-term credibility and resilience.

7. Is there a goodcarbon Original project to explore?

Yes! The People’s Chaka in Ethiopia is goodcarbon’s first market-ready Original. It restores 7,000 hectares of forest, sequesters 2.3 million tons of CO₂, and benefits 300,000+ people through clean water, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

8. In which regions and for what types of projects does goodcarbon co-develop Originals?

9. How do goodcarbon Originals involve local communities, and what role do they play in project success?

Communities are at the center of every Original:

• Direct benefit-sharing: Our goal is that at least 50% of revenues go directly or indirectly to local communities
• Co-governance & decision-making structures
• Job creation, infrastructure, & livelihood improvements
• Land ownership remains with local stakeholders—no displacement, no land grabbing

10. What scientific methodologies does goodcarbon use to verify the impact of Originals?

goodcarbon Originals employ a comprehensive, science-based verification approach to ensure measurable impact. Using remote sensing and satellite monitoring, combined with on-the-ground data collection and field validation, we track ecosystem restoration in real-time. Beyond carbon sequestration, we assess biodiversity recovery through species monitoring and habitat analysis. Social impact assessments and community surveys ensure that local benefits are tangible and equitable. To uphold the highest integrity, all projects undergo independent third-party validation, guaranteeing transparency, accountability, and verifiable long-term results.

11. How does goodcarbon select the projects that qualify as Originals?

• Scientific screening & risk analysis to ensure long-term viability
• In-depth due diligence & field verification before project implementation
• Continuous market monitoring to uphold the highest quality standards
• Expert advisory board validation to ensure credibility and impact

Nature is more than just carbon storage—it’s the foundation of life. With goodcarbon Originals, we go beyond offsets to create lasting, measurable impact for ecosystems and the people who depend on them. If you're ready to invest in real nature restoration, transparent carbon credits, and high-integrity climate action, join us.