Who qualifies for the Symbiosis Coalition RFP?

Reforestation, agroforestry and mangrove projects on an ICVCM-approved standard that can offer at least 100,000 tonnes over a 10-year offtake, with an advanced draft or final PDD, a completed pilot planting and a dynamic baseline. Biochar and other project types are not part of the current RFP.

What Symbiosis is

A group of corporate buyers with an advance market commitment of more than 20 million tonnes of nature-based carbon removal by 2030. Members sign long-term offtakes, and Symbiosis runs one joint RFP and one diligence process on their behalf.

The eligibility list

• Project type: reforestation, agroforestry and mangrove only. Afforestation, meaning closed-canopy forest planted where it is not the native state, is excluded.
• Stage: an advanced draft or final Project Design Document.
• Standard: ICVCM-approved. For reforestation and agroforestry the methodology must be ICVCM-approved too; for mangroves, only the standard for now.
• Volume: at least 100,000 tonnes offered over a 10-year offtake. Priority goes to projects that can reach about 500,000 tonnes over 10 years, though smaller projects of exceptional quality are considered.
• Pilot: a completed pilot planting covering at least 2% of each planned intervention type.
• Baseline: a dynamic baseline built on statistically matched control plots, with mangrove exceptions decided case by case.
• Location: any country, except areas the US State Department lists as Level 4: Do Not Travel.

What you submit

• Project boundaries, the Project Design Document and a Restoration Implementation Plan.
• A carbon model and a financial model, each with the Symbiosis coversheet.
• At intermediate diligence: proof of land access and carbon rights, baseline and additionality tests, stakeholder and benefit-sharing plans, monitoring plans and a long-term risk plan.

How projects are picked

1. Eligibility check against the list above.
2. Screening for completeness and readiness.
3. Geospatial diligence on baseline, leakage, albedo and land suitability.
4. Intermediate diligence against the Symbiosis quality criteria.
5. Full diligence, including a site visit.
6. Contracting directly with the members who opt in, for a minimum term of 10 years.

What to know before applying

• Symbiosis does not finance reforestation or agroforestry projects directly, and most offtakes pay on delivery. A small pre-purchase may be considered case by case for mangrove projects. It also shares a list of investors interested in RFP projects.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Other project types would likely come in 2027 or later.
• Once you submit, Symbiosis members can buy those tonnes only through the RFP, not in a side deal. Full diligence comes with an exclusivity agreement for the tonnes under review.

What Senseible does here

Symbiosis buys tree and mangrove tonnes, not biochar. For a project that fits, Senseible's offline field app, geotagged photos and forward contract and milestone tracking keep the plot and delivery records together. The verifier checks them and the registry issues the credits.

• Mangrove restoration credits in India
• Carbon credit offtake agreements
• ICVCM Core Carbon Principles
• Durable or nature-based removals
• Carbon removal

Sources: Symbiosis Coalition, RFP page (current RFP and developer resources), Symbiosis Coalition, FAQs (eligibility, documents, diligence stages, contracts), Symbiosis Coalition, home page (advance market commitment)

Last reviewed 2026-11-02.