Ecosystem Certification Organisation (ECO) is a not-for-profit organisation based in the UK. It serves as the administration body of the Natural Forest Standard (NFS).
NATURAL FOREST STANDARD
The NFS has been developed for natural forestry projects within the voluntary carbon market. It provides an efficient and effective mechanism for crediting the carbon and ecosystem benefits resulting from the avoided deforestation and degradation of large scale natural forest projects.
With an increasing focus on natural climate solutions for the preservation of the planet in recent times, the biodiversity and ecosystem benefits that are present within the world’s natural forests is evermore important. The ECO NFS provides a framework for protecting both the forests and the biodiversity that exists within them through the quantification and certification of both carbon and biodiversity values, whilst also providing livelihood benefits to the local communities.
The ECO NFS has been developed due to a clear need for a standard that includes both the quantification of carbon benefits from avoided deforestation and degradation of forests, together with biodiversity and social benefits into one all-encompassing Standard.
ECO Governance Board
The Natural Forest Standard operates under the administration of ECO, with a governance board which will include appropriate representation of experts in forest conservation, ecosystem services and social issues whilst also representing the needs of the stakeholders and the efficient operation of the Standard. The ECO NFS secretariat, overseen by the Board carries out the operational activities in relation to the administration of the main functions of the Standard.
DIRECTORS
Victoria Kelly, BA
Vicky holds a BA in Business Administration and is fully ISO 14064-1, 2 and 3 qualified. With over 20 years of expertise in administrative and project management roles, working for environmental and not-for-profit organisations.
Vicky was a key member of the original development team for the Natural Forest Standard and has been integral to its coordination and administration since its inception in 2012. Bringing together a blend of business acumen and environmental stewardship enables her to bridge the gap between commerce and conservation, contributing meaningfully to sustainability initiatives and the development of innovative environmental standards.
Her role within the NFS has provided her with deep insights into forest protection projects and nature-based project development, enhancing her knowledge of environmental standards and carbon market mechanisms.
Jonathan Bowie, BSc, MBA
Jonathan holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Aberdeen University (1989) and an MBA In Finance from the Johnson Business School at Cornell University (1991). He co-authored a paper with Cornell Professor Peter Carr that kick-started a branch of research into the static hedging of barrier options (“Static Simplicity”, Risk Magazine (Aug 1994)). He was awarded a St Andrews Scholarship to study at Cornell.
Jonathan then went on to leadership roles in the UK retail sector helping start-ups and mature businesses grow sales and profitability. In 2003 he was recognised as the Ernst & Young Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year and his company appeared in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100.
More recently, Jonathan has taken on non-exec and exec roles in organization that use market-based solutions to solve climate problems.