About
Basics of the Foundation
Glen Lochay Estate is held by a Swiss foundation with a non-profit purpose. The primary aim of the foundation is to achieve biodiversity, and to do so with as little human intervention as possible. The foundation ensures that this environmental purpose is maintained ‘forever’, creating an unlimited, and everlasting purpose.
Biodiversity will always be the priority, and to support this, the foundation may rely on high quality carbon credits. All income from these must be reinvested according to the purpose of the foundation. Where there might be any conflict between the two, diversity will always have priority. The aim of the foundation is the restoration of the ecosystem and of native species; not one of profit.
There can be pitfalls associated with this. Unfortunately, an industry has developed giving priority to making money, instead of helping the climate. We clearly distance ourselves from this.
While it is a shame that this industry exists, it should not mean the abandonment well-designed reforestation projects. For us, the carbon credits allows the expansion of native woodland, and in return, the buyer of those credits can support scientific work carried out by Ripa Gar, in the knowledge that the money will be used for non-profit objectives.
Ripa Gar sells carbon credits, but only selectively. They are sold for no less than 40CHF/tCO2e. The permanence of these reforestations as carbon sinks is secured institutionally by the everlasting purpose of the foundation, by a system of buffer stocks (which is a collective insurance against physical threats such as fire, disease or other catastrophic damage), and legally by the UK Woodland Carbon Code.
With regard to the climate, it is important to design all measures within a systematic view, that will help the world as a whole to tackle the problem. With regards to combating climate change, multiple solutions will be required to successfully combat this, and the Glen Lochay woodland goes part way toward that. This will need to go hand in hand with technological measures to absorb carbon - Technological Negative Emissions (NET). A partner of Ripa Gar Foundation, Mamlorn AG, is already engaged in Negative Emissions Technologies, specifically that of mineralisation of CO2.
Furthermore, the felling of trees at Glen Lochay will be avoided. In part, this is for the benefit of the woodland itself, but also due to noise pollution and disruption associated with felling. No felling will take place for commercial purposes. Thus, there is no comparison at all with projects that promise only to refrain from felling for a few years.
Finally, a few details on the foundation:
The creation of a Swiss foundation safeguards the environmental purpose with greater strength than even a Trust. Once placed in a foundation, the owner cannot take anything back. The foundation is owned by itself, and the assets are linked forever to the purpose and the board.
Any board member of the foundation is committed to follow the purpose; this can be seen in the register and is supervised by the Swiss authorities.
Board members give their time with no compensation, or minimal compensation for expenses.
