PUR LAB

PURPOSE: QUANTIFYING AND VALUING  ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

 

Developing a science-based approach through academic research and field studies is key to supporting the development and long-term sustainability of our projects. Our research provides evidence of the impact Nature-Based Solutions have on socio-economic conditions, biodiversity, soil health and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It also helps us to channel funds to the most effective and impactful projects.

 

PUR Lab, our in-house research and expertise hub, combines 6 years of research experience on our impacts and their valuation with a strong network of external scientific partners. The mission of PUR Lab is to provide science- based information on our projects through research and impact studies, and to better value the ecosystem services achieved through the work we are doing in community-based ecosystem restoration projects.

 

PUR Lab’s activities include:

  • Structuring the research undertaken at PUR Projet through the development of protocols and methodologies to evaluate projects, 
  • Coordinating analysis and reporting. 
  • Sharing results across PUR Projet so that we can learn from our research.
  • Centralizing PUR Projet’s subject expertise and connecting the organization with relevant universities and experts to build greater recognition for our work around the world.

 

“[…] Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.”

W.Bruce Cameron

OUR STRENGTHS

STRATEGIC

Measure and value the impacts of activities within supply chains beyond classic KPI reporting

Diverse topics to choose from including Carbon, Soils, Water, Biodiversity, and Livelihoods

Improve project iteratively with studies’ results

ADAPTIVE

Client Interests: Our study portfolio covers multiple topic areas that can be refined with the client

Scale & Scope: Flexibility on the approaches (qualitative or quantitative) and on the scope (communities, regions) 

Budget: A range of budgets can be catered to depending on the sample size, tools used, and academic support required

SCIENTIFIC

Local expertise through carefully selected consultancies to best adapt to local contexts and languages

PUR Projet supervises the tools and methodologies used to maintain high-quality and consistency across projects

Internationally-renowned academic experts to strengthen and review our approach

FIELD STUDIES : UNDERSTANDING PROJECT CONTEXT, MEASURING IMPACTS

 

The PUR Lab coordinates research studies on our projects that can be adapted to a wide variety of objectives and budgets.

The studies aim at demonstrating the added value of the client’s funding on the ground, as well as providing more detailed information to feed into qualitative or quantitative reporting on a specific indicator or area of interest.

OUR PROCESS

1. Extensive literature review and desk work

PUR Lab has developed an extensive library of research regarding how environmental projects impact ecosystems, local communities, supply chains and involved companies. The scientific publications are analyzed and classified according to specific criteria: climate, geographic zone, raw materials, plantation models, evaluation methods, etc. This contributes to the design of our evaluation and monitoring protocols, bespoke research programs, as well as the assessment of the potential economic value generated by agroforestry.

 

2. Monitoring and Evaluation protocols and designing unique research programs

Monitor and evaluate the impacts of our projects on carbon, soil, water, biodiversity and livelihoods. Our approach is based on our literature review and combines:

  • Design of research protocol and relevant tools with international academic partners
  • Fieldwork based on local experience and expertise
  • Analysis using Statistical Tools
  • Reporting and Visualisation

 

 

 

4. Valuing the ecosystem services generated by trees

In addition to conducting individual studies at the project level, PUR Projet has also developed a tool to value the economic benefit of ecosystem services generated by each of our agroforestry projects. This tool is based on:

  • A thorough literature review of key ecosystem services and their economic value
  • A selection of indicators (for each ecosystem service) and an assessment of value creation (for the planet, the people, and the company) of a tree based on the climatic conditions and profile of a project
  • Iterative improvement of the model through our field research and impact evaluations

3. Field activities with local teams and partners

PUR Lab defines the global approach and framework methodology, facilitates researchers’ field work and logistics, compiles and analyses all research data and results and connects academics with corporates. Field studies are conducted in order to measure the key impacts in the projects. These studies also contribute to our scientific database and refining a model that PUR Lab has developed to estimate the potential value generated by our activities.

Stakeholders: SCIENTISTS, CORPORATE, PROJECTS

 

 

UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTES

  • Engage students and researchers for field studies on PUR's project sites
  • Bring scientific background and academic support (review and validity of protocols, data interpretation)
  • Collaborate and bring support for scientific publications
  • Host research in specialized research labs

COMPANIES INVESTING IN SUPPLY CHAIN SUSTAINABILITY

  • Assist in implementing research protocols within their supply chains
  • Value ecosystem services provided by projects
  • Share their expertise on quality, supply and market
  • Participate in thesis and research work

PUR PROJET AND LOCAL FARMERS GROUPS

  • Develop Nature Based projects, especially agroforestry
  • Co-build and implement measurement protocols

 

PUR PROJET

  • Define the global approach and the framework methodology
  • Facilitate researchers' field work and logistics
  • Compile all research data and results and coordinate the analysis of the results
  • Provide linkage between communities, academic and corporate stakeholders