Community Investment and Cooperation for Ecological Regeneration in Lancashire (CICERL)
The CICERL project, led by Ribble Rivers Trust, uses a cooperative model in the River Ribble catchment to deliver ecosystem services like biodiversity net gain (BNG), carbon credits, and natural flood management (NFM). Farmers and landowners supply land for these services, which are sold to businesses and local authorities. The model supports large-scale conservation while providing sustainable income for participants.
This project is one of 24 case studies published in 2024, alongside a report evaluating the process, impact and value for money of NEIRF Rounds 1 and 2.
Access full case studyThe aim of this project is to develop an innovative cooperative model to underpin relationships between buyers and sellers to enable £1-2m immediate investment to finance actions in the River Hyndburn catchment, the River Loud catchment, and Long Preston Deeps.
This will be achieved through using identified actions on the ground to deliver environmental improvements and finding funding/finance to support mitigation measures that are flexible enough to meet the needs of the local environment and businesses. NEIRF funding will enable the project to develop a suitable governance structure (cooperative) that will meet investors’, buyers’ and sellers’ requirements. The NEIRF funding will support converting identified environmental improvements into investable opportunities.
Subsequent investment will be used for co-designed activities such as soil & nutrient management, grassland & rush management, woodland and riparian buffer creation, hedgerow restoration and creation, habitat creation and bespoke NFM activities such as leaky dams and reconnecting flood plains. This will deliver a range of ecosystem services including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, biodiversity net gain, and flood risk mitigation. The model ensures that as effective demand and knowledge develops, there is the potential for the cooperation to adapt and develop.
Ribble Rivers Trust is an experienced facilitator of the delivery of ecosystem services with well established relationships with a range of key stakeholders including land managers, regulators, water companies and investors. Supported by a multi-disciplinary team of experts in economics and regulation, cooperative design and law, community investment and regenerative agriculture. This project has the potential to develop and test an innovative approach to governing relations between buyers and sellers of ecosystem services and private sector investment that could be replicated across England and deliver the blended finance and governance for ELM landscape recovery.
Project Aim
To develop an alternative governance model to generate catchment-scale investment through green finance.
To improve water quality, carbon sequestration, biodiversity and decrease flood risk in all three catchment areas
Project partners
Economic Pluralism
Dr Charlie Clutterbuck (Specialist Consultant)
Funding model
Carbon sequestration: there is strong demand for carbon offsets from businesses (through the woodland carbon code), local authorities and others who are seeking to offset residual emissions who have legal obligations under carbon trading schemes or have made voluntary commitments to achieve net zero.
Water quality improvements: for those with flexible permitting (or seeking flexible permitting) such as water companies.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): the Environment Act 2021 will drive demand for BNG from developers via intermediaries using established standards for measuring BNG.
Water quantity improvements (Natural Flood Management): There is increasing interest in this from UU, EA and insurance bodies. We are already providing this benefit to UU, and initiatives are developing to create more effective demand.
Air Quality Improvement: There is increasing demand for a reduction in air pollution such as PM2.5 and ammonia reductions to improve physical health.
Recreation, Health and Wellbeing: Through Environmental Sustainability Goals, companies seeking to increase their environmental sustainability through this model will aim to meet goals: 3 (Good health and well-being), 13 (Climate action), 14 (Life below water),15 (Life on land).
Future Investment Potential
Carbon Sequestration: a recently produced carbon pathways report for Lancashire shows significant emissions which will need to be reduced and offset. Our project will contribute to this and deliver on “Mitigation of and adaptation to climate change”
Water quality: Inappropriate soil and nutrient management, farmyard infrastructure and loss of habitat has impacted water quality, with 74% of waterbodies failing WFD targets. We will address these and contribute to “clean and plentiful water”.
Biodiversity: Lancashire has significant amounts of degraded habitats and a lack of priority habitat, as detailed in various plans. We will address this and contribute to “thriving plants and wildlife”.
Out of date? Contact us at info@ecosystemsknowledge.net