How to explain how carbon offsets improve outcomes for wildlife

It’s Wildlife Conservation Day today and at Nature Broking we have been thinking about how to get over the message that high impact, high integrity carbon offsetting projects help create and restore habitats for our wildlife, both here in the UK and globally.

It is clear from examples such as Knepp Rewilding in Sussex that ‘if you build it, they will come’ (to quote that Hollywood baseball blockbuster, Field of Dreams). At Knepp they have seen the return of many species on the brink, such as Purple Emperor Butterflies and Nightingales, and seen them return in numbers.

The same can be said for carbon removal projects through regenerative agriculture. By improving the soil quality, planting and managing hedgerows, wildflower meadows and trees, introducing agroforestry and using fewer inputs, the power of the project-generated carbon credit is clear. These methods create habitats where our wildlife can thrive.

So how to get the message across?

Should carbon offsets from regenerative agriculture be described as ‘Sustainable Farming with Nature…credits’ or credits from regenerated and replanted woodlands be billed as ‘Restoring the UK's lost forests…credits’ or offsets from Enhanced Rock Weathering as ‘Unlocking the power of rain and stone together to remove carbon and reduce chemical inputs and create farmland where nature can thrive…credits’? Aargh - all too long!

As you can tell, it’s a little tricky to find a punchy way to explain that the type of carbon removal and reduction projects that can be purchased through Nature Broking are FOR CLIMATE MITIGATION but also FOR WILDLIFE. But we can assure you, they are!

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.