Introduction

The Boreal Wildlands Forest Carbon Project is the largest private land conservation initiative in Canadian history and plays a vital role in protecting biodiversity and moderating the impacts of climate change in Canada. Located near Hearst, Ontario, and owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, this permanently protected area encompasses 145,072 hectares of intact boreal forest, including over 1,300 kilometres of rivers and streams and extensive carbon-rich peatlands.

By conserving this landscape, the project maintains and enhances long-term carbon storage, contributes to Canada's net-zero by 2050 target, and supports the country's 30x30 conservation goal. It also fosters meaningful partnerships with Indigenous Nations by enabling traditional land use, access, and stewardship opportunities, while promoting diversified, sustainable local economies. Conservation of the property also protects vital habitats and corridors for rare and threatened species, strengthening ecosystem resilience. The project is currently under review with Verra for both validation and verification.

Our Role

Ostrom Climate was contracted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada to develop an Improved Forest Management (IFM) project under Verra's VM0034 methodology. We provided end-to-end technical support across the full project lifecycle, from initial feasibility assessment through carbon modelling, project design, and preparation of all documentation required for validation and verification. In addition to the core Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) submission, we prepared accompanying Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCB) and Sustainable Development Verified Impact Standard (SD VISta) materials to demonstrate the project's broader social, environmental, and sustainable development benefits.