We value living forests
What is a Centree?
A Centree is a measurement of ecological forest volume directly related to its maturity. A Centree is conceptually representative of 100 years of tree life in an area, but calculated using a much more nuanced methodology, it is used to give an understanding of ecosystem value that is far more meaningful than a simple land area measurement.
A bit more detail - An area of primary old growth forest that has never been harvested has a far greater ecological value than a same sized area of forest that was clear cut 10 years ago. Equally an area of forest that is located in a lush valley bottom with a good supply of water and rich soil base has a higher ecological value then an area of the same size that is on a shale covered cliff, even if it is of the same age or even older. So despite similar age or area measurements there can still be a wide variation of ecological value outside those metrics.
Methodology
The Centree methodology has been created to help balance these kinds of differentials and present a richer ecological metric from a wider range of data sets. The methodology allows a dynamic variance so that it can be applied across a variety of regions and biomes with additional data and learnings shaping and evolving it over time. Application of the Centree Methodology results in a Centree count for a specific area as an ecological indexing value that can then be used to more accurately compare it to other areas.
Why do we need this? Because as humanity is starting to develop new and innovative ways to invest in living natural capital (see www.kwaxala.com) it is important that we can quantify ecosystems in ways that are indicative of the holistic ecoservice value they provide on an ongoing basis, rather than simply in terms of land area or gross maturity.
Right now humanity is trying to work out how to quantify specific ecosystem services, like carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection, so that those profiting from activities that have a negative impact on our ecosystems can also budget a way to counterbalance their impact. It is about much more than simply carbon and net zero emissions commitments, it’s about how to properly counterbalance, in a much broader sense, the impact that humanity’s resource extraction and commercial activity has on nature. And so by more richly quantifying the underlying ecosystem that delivers these critical ecoservices we add a layer of measurement that aids with natural capital investment, ahead of and distinct to payments for ecoservices themselves.
Protocol
The Centree Protocol is the application of the Centree Methodology to a specific area to quantify its Centree volume, followed by the confirmation of its permanent legal protection to a recognised standard and the creation of a corresponding public record.
The Centree Token - Backed by protected living nature
The Centree Token is a fungible regenerative currency token. The supply volume for its issuance is directly and transparently related to the volume of Centrees quantified and confirmed as legally protected, or committed to protection, by the Centree Protocol. These tokens therefore each represent a volume of protected, or soon to be protected, natural ecosystem and the only way in which additional supply can be created is through the additional protection of nature. Every token is directly traceable back to the original Centree of ecosystem that triggered its issuance through the publicly available data set created and managed by the Centree Protocol.
“The Centree Token is a unit of account representing the intrinsic value of a protected natural ecosystem. Nothing more, nothing less and totally priceless.”
Centree in Action
The Centree Methodology, Protocol and Token are being developed and piloted by Kwaxala, an Indigenous majority owned nature regeneration organization. The Centree Methodology is being used to quantify the ecological volume of Kwaxala’s ground breaking 140,000 acre/55,000 hectare pilot area in British Columbia, Canada. The Centree Tokens issued by the application of the Centree Protocol will be recognised by Kwaxala as a method of pricing, payment and revenue distribution for the Kwaxala Living Forest Shares issued relating to the pilot project area.
To find out more about the Kwaxala project and the organization behind the Centree concept, head to www.kwaxala.com.
Beyond Forests
We are exploring the use of the Centree concept, combined with Kwaxala’s innovative ecosystem investment mechanism and Indigenous cooperative ownership structure, in other biomes and geographic areas.
Centree Foundation
The Centree initiative will be maintained by a not for profit foundation that will be responsible for the open methodology, protocol application and all token issuance. Use of the Centree protocol to quantify proven protected nature and receive issued Centree Tokens will be openly available. The mission of the Centree Foundation is to act as a (de)centralised bank for natural ecosystems and regenerative currency issuance.
We’d love to hear from you…
If you are interested in learning more about Centree, please do reach out. We are currently modelling and developing the complete concept alongside the real world Kwaxala pilot project. Alongside this we are actively seeking and engaging with development partners across commercial, academic, philanthropic and governmental spheres. So please do reach out if you are interested in collaboration, involvement or would just like to learn more.