Consultation response template

BRE are developing a framework which will ensure that the plethora of standards and schemes entering the market are comparable, transparent and maximise the potential for investment.

This document poses a series of questions which will help in the development of this framework and should be read in conjunction with the main consultation document Ecosystem Assessment Framework – Context and Principles

1. Scope of assessment and certification for any Ecosystem Assessment Framework
Should the Ecosystem Assessment Framework certify projectsas well as schemes, and if so how can this be achieved?
How would you make use of theEcosystem Assessment Framework to support your business interests’ e.g. supporting financial decision making, project or scheme development, offering an opportunity into new markets?
What existing schemes and standards could support and complement the Ecosystem Assessment Framework?
2. Principles of Assessment & Certification
Should the Ecosystem Assessment Framework certify schemes and projects against limited and specific activity,such as Carbon sequestration, or would a broader assessment be more appropriate?
3. Assessment & Certification
Should the proposed schemes and projects be certified at different levels (e.g. Good, Very Good and Excellent) or set minimum acceptable standards for schemes and projects (e.g. Pass or Fail)?
What ecosystem types / conventions should the Ecosystem Assessment Framework start with?
What scoping questions could be posed to schemes and projects wishing to be assessed under the Ecosystem Assessment Framework, such that these potentially different schemes or projects can be compared e.g. scale of project, activity types etc.?
Should assessment criteria be broken down into different aspects (as suggested in Figure 3) and if so, given the variety of criteria likely to be considered how would you categorise them? i.e. what categories should the Ecosystem Assessment Framework consider?
4. Framework structure
How can the guidance documentation help users understand and interact with the proposed Ecosystem Assessment Framework?
What do you think of the proposed template (proposed in Figure 4) and what else could be provided to help users?
General questions
How would your organisation use the additional recognition and robustness offered by such an approach?
The Ecosystem Assessment Framework would allow investment in UK based projects to be accounted for in the usual social and environmental reporting and offsetting activities. What would be the benefits to your organisation of participating in UK projects?
If you are a funder, what type of projects would you be interested in supporting?
If you are an NGO / land owner, what type of projects would you like to put forward/support?
The success or otherwise of such a scheme will be determined by the level of engagement by funders, scheme operators, landowners and projects. What do you see as the main barriers to the uptake of an Ecosystem Assessment Framework and how can these be addressed?
Your details
What would your interest, if any, be in the proposed Ecosystem Assessment Framework(e.g. potential project registration, possible assessor, enabling scheme developer etc.)
Please provide a little information on the organisation / interest group that you are representing in your responses

I would like to receive a summary report of the consultation responses

I would like to participate in the future consultation and on-going development of this framework (e.g. through representation on a steering group, learning by doing etc.)?
If so, please provide some details on how you might be able help. / 

Finally, please provide your contact details:

Please send your responses to Karen Young via on or before the 24th January 2014