ID: 2226
Presenting Author: Tejasvini Chalikonda
Session: 756 - Assessing Integrity: The Role of Impact Assessment in High-Quality Nature-Based Carbon Projects
Status: pending
Based on case studies, this paper examines how transparent, two-way community engagement & ESDD-informed communication can improve credibility of IA & counter misinformation in Nbs projects.
Nature-based carbon projects, like many initiatives implemented in traditional-use landscapes, can unintentionally affect local ecosystem services and community livelihoods. Assessing these impacts has typically relied on community consultations and perception-based surveys. However, the reliability of these responses can be uncertain, potentially leading to under or overestimation of project effects thereby creating room for misinformation or misinterpretation of local realities.
This presentation explores how applying techniques from Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) processes can strengthen the integrity of community engagement and enhance the credibility of impact assessments in nature-based projects. Taking lessons learnt from a number of case studies from across Southeast Asia, this presentation examines how open, two-way communication channels between project developers and local communities can improve understanding of changes to ecosystem services, particularly those related to Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs).
The findings highlight that rigorous, transparent, and participatory dialogue is critical not only for accurate impact assessment but also for combating misinformation and building trust in project outcomes. By embedding these communication approaches within the design and monitoring of carbon projects, practitioners can ensure that assessments more accurately reflect local realities and support equitable, high-integrity nature-based solutions.
Tejasvini is a Senior Consultant at Earth Active, specialising in biodiversity advisory, ESIA, and ESDD for nature-based and renewable projects.
Coauthor 1: Rob Evans