Environment Matters - Natural Capital: where are we now? In conversation with Oxygen Conservation - S3E4

Natural capital is moving rapidly up the agenda for businesses, investors and policymakers – but where are we now, and what does good look like in practice? In this episode of Environment Matters hosted by Michael Barlow, Sarah Sackville Hamilton and Gabi Gershuny, from the Environment team, are joined by special guests, George Pawley (General Counsel and Company Secretary) and Chris Winter (Director of Natural Capital) at Oxygen Conservation.

The panel takes a deep dive into Burges Salmon's long-term carbon partnership with Oxygen Conservation, exploring how the partnership supports the protection and restoration of temperate Atlantic rainforest habitat and wider environmental and social benefits at the Leighon Estate in Dartmoor, Devon. The discussion touches on what makes a premium quality carbon credit, the challenges of structuring innovative natural capital agreements, and the lessons learned from building a first-of-its-kind partnership in the UK voluntary carbon market.

Looking beyond the carbon partnership, the conversation also examines the wider natural capital landscape in the UK, highlighting legal and policy developments affecting nature-based projects across the country and considering what action is needed to unlock greater private investment into nature recovery.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction and overview of the partnership
01:43 Oxygen Conservation's mission and growth in the natural capital sector
07:09 The objectives behind the Burges Salmon x Oxygen Conservation partnership
09:41 What makes a premium-quality carbon credit?
14:31 Progress at the Leighon Estate and early impacts on the ground
20:19 Lessons learned from developing an innovative natural capital partnership
27:44 Tackling key legal and commercial challenges in carbon projects
32:35 The future of natural capital markets in the UK
41:12 What's next for Oxygen Conservation and the European market?