Land Life embeds eDNA Monitoring in its biodiversity measurement reporting for Global Reforestation
From a pilot project in Spain to rollout of customer biodiversity reports for carbon removal projects, Land Life has successfully built a comprehensive biodiversity monitoring product for reforestation clients using eDNA insights.
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Project Snapshot
Overview
Land Life, a pioneer in technology-driven reforestation with over 70 professionals across Amsterdam, Spain, Australia and North America, are successfully scaling their biodiversity monitoring capabilities from an initial pilot project to a comprehensive client service offering. The company's mission to help restore 2 billion hectares of degraded land globally requires robust measurement methodologies that can demonstrate ecological impact alongside carbon sequestration.
Following their successful pilot project in northern Spain, Land Life recognized the potential of eDNA technology to provide the scalable, standardized biodiversity monitoring they needed and continue to explore its application. Working with NatureMetrics, they have developed an integrated measurement approach that applies a combination of, depending on the project needs and ecosystem type, soil eDNA analysis, bioacoustics, field surveys and remote sensing capabilities. This comprehensive methodology now forms a core component of their client reporting services, enabling Land Life to deliver scientifically rigorous biodiversity baseline insights to support biodiversity reporting and investment decision-making across their global reforestation portfolio.
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The Challenge
Land Life identified that a one-size-fits-all approach to biodiversity monitoring does not work. In particular, they were looking for a way to measure early indicators of ecosystem restoration, as it takes time for trees to grow. It was important to Land Life to understand early on if a project is showing the expected biodiversity improvements or whether they needed to course-correct.
Additionally, Land Life 's clients required biodiversity metrics that could be easily integrated into sustainability reporting frameworks, like the TNFD and CSRD, and investment tracking systems. The challenge was to develop a standardized approach that could deliver meaningful biodiversity insights without requiring extensive ecological expertise from field teams, whilst ensuring the data met the rigorous standards expected by investors and sustainability frameworks.
Esther Peeters
Product Manager, Land Life
Our Role
Soil organisms are sensitive to the changes Land Life needs to measure. We partnered with Land Life to transform their soil biodiversity monitoring from pilot testing to a full-scale baseline measurement option for their global operations. Using our user-friendly soil eDNA sampling kits, we enabled non-specialist teams across diverse geographic locations to collect consistent, high-quality data without requiring extensive ecological training.
In our laboratories, we processed soil samples to uncover the hidden world of fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates, providing detailed species lists and scientifically validated biodiversity metrics. Working closely with Land Life, we translated this complex data into clear metrics that could be integrated into client sustainability reports. We focused on key indicators like species richness and functional diversity, ensuring the findings could inform high-level management decisions.
Throughout the partnership, we provided hands-on technical support and data interpretation guidance, helping Land Life seamlessly weave eDNA insights into their broader monitoring approach alongside field surveys, bioacoustics and remote sensing, making biodiversity visible, measurable, and meaningful across their global reforestation portfolio.
Arnout Asjes
CTO Land Life
The Findings
The eDNA analysis demonstrated clear differences in soil biodiversity between degraded sites and healthy reference forests, with fungi emerging as particularly effective indicators of ecosystem condition. Species richness data showed variations between restoration sites and mature forest references, providing quantifiable evidence of biodiversity recovery potential. The functional diversity metric revealed important insights into ecosystem services, health and restoration progress.
Across multiple sites, the data confirmed that soil eDNA could effectively capture biodiversity patterns that aligned with field observations, whilst detecting species, like fungi, often missed by traditional survey methods. The analysis provided robust baseline data that could be used to track restoration trajectories over time, with metrics suitable for integration into client sustainability reports. Importantly, the standardised methodology proves an effective tool in assessing biodiversity across diverse landscapes, confirming its suitability for Land Life’s global operations.
The Impact
Land Life has successfully transformed their biodiversity monitoring from a research activity into a core business service, with their first client report incorporating eDNA insights delivered. The scalable methodology enables them to provide clients with scientifically validated biodiversity metrics that support both internal sustainability reporting and external investment tracking requirements. This capability has strengthened their value proposition, allowing them to offer comprehensive ecosystem impact measurement alongside carbon sequestration data.
The standardized approach has enabled Land Life to efficiently monitor biodiversity baselines across their expanding global portfolio without requiring extensive ecological expertise at each site. Clients are now starting to receive quantifiable evidence of biodiversity impact through metrics such as species richness and functional diversity indices, supporting their own sustainability reporting and demonstrating measurable environmental outcomes.
The success of the integrated monitoring approach has positioned Land Life to explore biodiversity crediting opportunities, with quality hectare measurements from NatureMetrics Restoration Tracker providing a foundation for potential future certification schemes. By combining eDNA with their existing bioacoustics, field survey and remote sensing capabilities, Land Life has created a comprehensive monitoring solution that meets the growing demand for rigorous biodiversity impact measurement in the reforestation sector.
Chris French
Conservation Account Manager, NatureMetrics
