The NARIA framework: a national solution for biodiversity policy, reporting and finance

Meeting biodiversity goals requires more than ambition. It demands frameworks that deliver measurable and credible ecosystem outcomes while unlocking the finance needed to achieve them. The NARIA Framework provides governments with a practical, science-based solution to design and implement effective biodiversity policies, monitor ecosystem condition, and mobilise private investment for nature recovery. Through its robust, standardised approach, NARIA enables governments to strengthen biodiversity strategies and build transparent and effective reporting systems. 

This will create the enabling conditions for high-integrity nature markets that deliver lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits. NARIA also ensures equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), embedding inclusion directly into the planning, delivery, monitoring and reporting processes. By adopting the policy approach pioneered by the Scottish Government, countries can integrate NARIA into national biodiversity strategies, creating a clear and actionable pathway to achieve biodiversity targets, while unlocking the potential of nature markets to support sustainable and equitable outcomes for people, nature, and the economy. 

1. Global Alignment

CreditNature’s NARIA (Natural Asset Recovery Investment Analytics) framework offers governments a comprehensive, scientifically rigorous solution to operationalise national biodiversity goals while facilitating access to nature finance. Certified under the Accounting for Nature Standard®, and supported by CreditNature’s Ecosystem Integrity Code, NARIA equips governments with the tools needed to measure, report on, and finance the restoration and maintenance of ecosystem integrity. 

NARIA integrates seamlessly with international commitments, including the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (UN-SEEA), and the UNDP SDG Impact Standards. It further aligns with market-facing frameworks such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits’ Framework. 

2. Two Core Functions 

Policy & Reporting Framework 

NARIA enables governments to meet biodiversity policy commitments and strengthen environmental governance by providing a credible system for ecosystem management, monitoring, and reporting. Through its Ecosystem Condition Index (ECI) and Ecosystem Management Rating (EMR) tools, NARIA supports the design and delivery of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with SMART indicators. The framework operationalises CBD GBF Goal A and Target 2, enabling governments to measure and report on both the maintenance of ecosystem integrity in protected and conserved areas, and the restoration of degraded ecosystems targeted for recovery. NARIA disaggregates areas being effectively stewarded from those requiring ecological uplift, providing robust evidence for CBD reporting in a standardised and globally comparable manner. 

By integrating seamlessly with the UN-SEEA and SDG Impact Standards, NARIA strengthens national accounting systems and helps governments meet multiple global reporting requirements simultaneously. CreditNature’s Ecosystem Integrity Code provides the guiding principles for project development and implementation of NARIA and is fully aligned with emerging integrity frameworks. 

The framework supports equitable inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) through standardised and adaptable metrics which are designed to function across multiple scales and eco-regions. The methodology provides guidance on data collection and target setting, helping integrate traditional ecological knowledge. Additionally, the EMR requires early engagement with IPLCs in the planning, design and delivery of restoration and conservation projects. 

Catalyse High Integrity & Scalable Nature Markets 

The NARIA framework enables governments to catalyse scalable, high-integrity nature markets by embedding metrics that ensure nature credits are scientifically robust, socially equitable, and internationally recognised. Nature credits, as enabled by NARIA, represent certified outcomes reflecting improved or maintained ecosystem integrity, creating a credible instrument for both domestic and international biodiversity finance. The Ecosystem Condition Index is certified under the Accounting for Nature Standard®, ensuring scientific credibility and market trust. The crediting system aligns with GBF Target 19 by supporting innovative finance mechanisms, attracting private sector investment into durable and transparent nature conservation and restoration projects.

3. Supporting Additional Policy Mechanisms 

Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) 

OECMs will play a critical role in achieving the GBF’s 30x30 goal. NARIA is well suited to help governments identify, monitor, and report on OECMs by providing consistent and verifiable metrics of ecosystem integrity. The CreditNature digital platform provides governments and land managers with a streamlined tool to assess eligibility, gather data, and report on the ecological condition and stewardship of OECM sites. This ensures that OECMs are not only designated but effectively managed and contributing to national and global biodiversity objectives. 

Support for Nature-based Carbon and Climate Finance 

The NARIA Framework can also support the design and delivery of nature-based carbon projects by evidencing the integrity and co-benefits of climate mitigation interventions. By linking biodiversity and ecosystem integrity into carbon credit projects, governments and project developers can generate higher-quality, premium carbon credits that reflect not only carbon outcomes but broader ecosystem and biodiversity benefits. 

4. CreditNature’s Digital Platform 

CreditNature’s digital platform provides governments with a scalable, end-to-end solution to implement the NARIA framework efficiently and transparently. The platform offers a guided, stepwise onboarding process for nature custodians, conservation authorities and project developers, ensuring consistent and high-quality data collection, project design, and reporting. 

By integrating ecosystem monitoring, with management actions and metric calculation into a single system, the platform streamlines the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and market-based mechanisms. 

A key feature is the built-in transparency. Every action, dataset, and outcome is digitally tracked and auditable, facilitating faster and more credible verification processes. This improves confidence among governments, communities, and private investors while reducing transaction and compliance costs. 

The platform’s core functions include: 

• Standardised project onboarding and management 
• Stepwise data collection, recovery planning, and metric generation 
• Transparent reporting aligned with national and international frameworks 
• Support for verification, credit issuance, sales and retirement 

The platform is designed to be scalable, secure, and adaptable, ensuring its relevance as nature and climate finance markets evolve.

5. Unlocking Investment & Strengthening Governance 

Adopting the NARIA framework enables governments to simultaneously strengthen biodiversity governance, unlock investment, and enhance national and international credibility. By integrating NARIA into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and broader policy frameworks, governments can meet and exceed CBD Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets, while improving transparency and consistency in ecosystem condition reporting. The framework equips governments with the tools to generate scientifically credible nature credits, attract private sector investment, and establish durable financing mechanisms that drive long-term ecosystem stewardship. In doing so, governments can facilitate high-integrity nature markets that support climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development objectives, as evidenced by the pioneering work in Scotland (see Box 2).

Furthermore, NARIA helps ensure inclusive participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), embedding equity into national reporting and market-based conservation efforts. The NARIA Framework offers a transformative opportunity for governments to position themselves as leaders in nature conservation and restoration, while mobilising much-needed finance for people, nature, and the economy. 

6. NARIA: A call to action 

NARIA is designed to be adaptable to diverse national contexts and offers a cost-effective solution for achieving ambitious biodiversity targets. It does so by applying a consistent, science-based framework to monitor and report on both the stewardship of high-integrity ecosystems and the restoration of degraded ones. 

To learn more about how NARIA can be implemented in your national context, we invite you to take the following steps: 

• Request an introductory meeting with the CreditNature team and get a demonstration of the digital platform and the Ecosystem Integrity Code.
• Explore our case studies and detailed reports on NARIA implementation in other countries via our website. 
• Discuss the feasibility of a pilot project tailored to your national context. 
• Access introductory materials and resources on the NARIA framework.