Community Conservation Enterprises Rating System
'CERS' Framework
The CERS framework is a comprehensive approach designed to assess the viability and sustainability of Community Conservation Enterprises (CCEs). It combines financial, environmental, and social criteria, integrating tools like geospatial analysis and inclusivity metrics, to evaluate projects managed by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
The framework ensures that CCEs contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, adaptation and livelihoods while offering practical pathways for implementation and long-term success.
WHY USE CERS?
A comprehensive, multidimensional assessment helps stakeholders: ​​​​​​​
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make
informed decisions
ensure financial viability
and social inclusivity
ensure sustainability
for long-term success
A Community Conservation Enterprise is a business model that:
generates income for local communities
through sustainable and regenerative practices
while promoting Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities unique cultural, spiritual, and customary ties to their lands and waters, and safeguarding their essential contributions to human well-being, biodiversity conservation, and efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
This framework, built from work done by WWF, USAID, IUCN and others, provides a comprehensive, adaptable approach to selecting and assessing the feasibility of conservation enterprises. CERS addresses the key challenges by focusing on four critical dimensions:
Step 1:
Each layer is evaluated using a variety of tools to score the 4-dimensions of the framework.
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Stakeholders Engagement
Geospatial Analytics
Desktop Research
Field Data & Community Consultation
Subject Matter Expertise
Market, Risk and Financial Analysis
Governance and Policy Assessment
01
Conditions for Success:
Enabling context that supports project sustainability.
02
Thriving Enterprises:
Viability of the business model for long-term
success & scale.
03
Community & Culture Alignment:
Socio-economic values alignment.
04
Nature's Balance:
Impact on biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Step 2:
Each layer and outcome receives a rating.
Catalysts for Success
Thriving Enterprises
Community & TEK Impact
Nature’s Balance
Step 3:
The sum of the four dimensions result in
a final rating ranging from triple A to D.
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Step 4:
All the outcomes are weighted together
for a final CERS Rating.
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Catalysts for Success
Thriving Enterprises
Community & TEK Impact
Nature’s Balance
Final
Result
Step 5:
The final rating is used, not only to assess viability, but also to
lay the groundwork for design, funding, implementation,
and monitoring, as well as to inform investors.
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THREE USE CASES
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New Projects
It ensures that only viable and sustainable nature- based enterprises are pursued, maximizing the likelihood of success.
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Project Initiation
It provides a robust foundation for launching projects, securing resources, and building capacity.
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Existing Projects
It offers a structured method for evaluation and improvement, enhancing performance and sustainability.
THE GAPS WE'RE CLOSING
Inconsistent Models:
Viability assessments vary widely depending on the practitioner who is hired, often lacking consistency and depth.
01
Wasted Resources:
Unclear viability wastes investments
and missed high- impact opportunities.
02
Insufficient Evaluation:
Current methods fail to capture the
full picture of people, planet, and profit.
03
Local Misalignment:
Ignoring community realities leads to
failure and resistance.
04
Return On Investment Overemphasis:
Focusing only on financial returns
neglects the project lifecycle.
05
Fragmented Perspectives:
Misaligned priorities between stakeholders
cause confusion and underperformance.
06
Scaling Issues:
Success is hard to replicate
without clear drivers.
07
Lack of Advanced Tools:
Assessments rarely use AI or consider biodiversity and climate impacts.
08
Case Study
Sustainable Value Chains in Licuáti Forest Reserve,
Mozambique in Partnership with MUVA
The Licuáti region in southern Mozambique faces a dual challenge, balancing economic development with the need to conserve its rich biodiversity. The region relies heavily on natural resources, particularly for activities like charcoal production and agriculture. This study aims to develop sustainable value chains that provide economic benefits while maintaining environmental integrity.
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The need for CERS arises from the current economic activities in Licuati that pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The primary objective is to identify, assess, and develop sustainable value chains that not only empower local communities but also ensure the preservation of natural ecosystems.
A pre-screening process was used to identify 20 potential value chains. These were selected based on their alignment with local resources, community needs, and economic potential.
01
Data Mining
Maps & Remote Sensing:
To analyze ecological impacts and land use.
Stakeholder Mapping:
Identified key players in the local economy, government, and NGOs.
Community Consultation:
Participatory mapping and group meetings helped gather local insights
on sustainable practices and economic aspirations.
02
Value Chain Selection Process “From 20 to 5”
Using CERS, we narrowed the 20 value chains to the 5 most promising value chains: Sustainable Charcoal Production, Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR), Regenerative Agriculture, Integrated Livestock Management Agroforestry.
03
Validation of Results
The results were then validated through feedback from key stakeholders in the process.
04
Application of CERS Rating on selected Value Chains
Sustainable Charcoal Production
Carbon Credits - ARR
Regenerative Agriculture
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Catalysts for Success
Thriving Enterprises
Community & TEK Impact
Nature’s Balance
Final
Result
OUR PARTNERS
The framework helped many of our clients to successfully evaluate enterprises including:
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