NCCC Certification Project No. 2 - Certification of Japan-style Voluntary Credits for Forests in Hinohara Village, Tokyo

The General Incorporated Association Natural Capital Credit Consortium (NCCC) is pleased to announce that it has certified carbon credits for the "Tokyo Hinohara Village Natural Forest/Artificial Forest Restoration Project (Hinohara Village, Tokyo Natural Forest・Artificial Forest Restoration Project)" implemented by its regular member i-Forest Co., Ltd., based on the NCCC Carbon Standard.

This project is the second NCCC-certified credit project and is an advanced forest project that integrates biodiversity and natural capital assessment with high-precision MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification) utilizing LiDAR (airborne laser scanning) and satellite data.

NCCC Certified Project No. 2

This certified project is a forest restoration and conservation project implemented in approximately 17.3 ha of forest located in Hinohara Village, Nishitama District, Tokyo. It aims to improve the carbon fixation and ecosystem functions of the forest through appropriate thinning of abandoned artificial forests, conservation of natural forests, and guidance towards mixed coniferous-deciduous forests that consider biodiversity.

Project overview is as follows:

Project Name: Tokyo Hinohara Village Natural Forest/Artificial Forest Restoration Project

Implementer: i-Forest Co., Ltd.

Project ID: 0002

Location: Hinohara Village, Nishitama District, Tokyo

Target Area: Approximately 17.31 ha

Credit Issuance Period: 2025-2045

Project Period: 2025-2035

Applicable Methodology: NCCC-MD0002 (Afforestation, Reforestation, and Vegetation Restoration)

Certified Credit Volume: 1,562.7 t-CO2e

Advanced Forest Project Born from a Tokyo Metropolitan Government Initiative

This project was implemented as a selected project under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's "Project to Promote the Creation of Absorption/Removal Carbon Credits." Led by i-Forest Co., Ltd., in collaboration with Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Bio-me Inc., Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd., the Urban Research Center of Kyushu University, and the General Incorporated Association Natural Capital Credit Consortium (NCCC), it has integrally advanced the visualization of forest CO2 absorption, biodiversity assessment, methodology development, and certification.

High-Precision MRV Utilizing LiDAR and Satellite Data

This project adopts MRV that combines LiDAR measurement using unmanned helicopters by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., with satellite data from Sentinel-2, MODIS, and others. This enables high-precision grasp of forest biomass, continuous monitoring of carbon fixation, visualization of forest structure, and cost-effective measurement methods.

NCCC aims to promote the social implementation of methodologies utilizing such remote sensing technologies and expand the creation of forest credits.

Natural Capital and Biodiversity Value Also Assessed

This project is characterized by its assessment of not only CO2 absorption but also the value of biodiversity and natural capital. It comprehensively evaluates the environmental value of forests using indicators such as Forest Structure Assessment (SCU), Satellite Index, and Species Observation Assessment (SOU).

NCCC will continue to advance its certification system, which integrates carbon credits and natural capital assessment, aiming to achieve both nature positivity and decarbonization.

"Great Spotted Woodpecker" (Bird) designated as Near Threatened (NT) in Tokyo. "Shai Sumire" designated as Near Threatened (NT) in Tokyo.

Division of Roles in Creation and Certification

In this project, the roles are divided as follows:

- i-Forest Co., Ltd.: Project implementation and credit creation

- NCCC: Methodology management, review, and certification

This division of roles has enabled the creation of highly reliable forest-derived credits.

Future Outlook

NCCC plans to deploy the forest credit creation model demonstrated through this initiative nationwide, promoting the visualization and market circulation of forest-derived natural capital value.

Furthermore, by enhancing the reliability of natural capital credits and carbon credits, and through collaboration with companies, municipalities, and research institutions, we will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society utilizing regional resources.

About NCCC

The General Incorporated Association Natural Capital Credit Consortium (NCCC) is a consortium that aims to realize a sustainable society by visualizing and evaluating the value of natural capital and certifying it as reliable credits through collaboration among companies, municipalities, and research institutions.

【NCCC Overview】

Organization Name: General Incorporated Association Natural Capital Credit Consortium Representative: Shunsuke Managi, Representative Director Establishment Date: April 10, 2023 Location: 744 Motooka, Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City Official Website: https://nccc.earth/

【i-Forest Co., Ltd. Overview】

Organization Name: i-Forest Co., Ltd. Representative: Takaaki Maruyama, Representative Director & CEO Establishment Date: March 14, 2022 Location: xBridge-Global, 3-1-3 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Official Website: https://iforest-inc.com/

【Contact Information】

General Incorporated Association Natural Capital Credit Consortium

Contact Person: NCCC Secretariat

Email: contact@nccc.earth