Guidance for Landscape Initiatives: Engaging with Climate Mitigation Projects

This resource was originally published by LandScale.

This climate mitigation project guidance was developed to provide support for landscape initiatives using LandScale in attracting corporate funding through the implementation of high-integrity climate mitigation projects, whether within or beyond the value chain.

The guidance outlines clear, actionable themes, principles, and steps to help initiatives build institutional and technical capacity and gain access to corporate funding through high-integrity action. It addresses common questions regarding the development of climate mitigation projects, including:

1. How can climate interventions be embedded in the landscape context, and how should initiatives differentiate between corporate claim pathways?
2. How can stakeholders and communities be engaged to improve carbon outcomes, maximize co‑benefits, and reduce risks?
3. How can the feasibility, cost, and commercial potential of climate interventions be assessed?
4. How should an appropriate monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) approach be selected, and what trade-offs should be considered?
5. Which standards, implementation partners, and funding sources are most relevant for climate mitigation projects, and how can they be leveraged?

By outlining the characteristics of high-quality climate mitigation projects, the guidance reflects many of the core principles of effective landscape initiative design. Its added value is a dedicated climate mitigation and carbon lens, offering targeted guidance to support informed decision-making when collaborating with third parties to develop projects within landscapes.