GRADE

Due Diligence on Forest & Nature Projects with Xilva GRADE

The trusted framework for thorough Environmental, Financial, and Social Assessment and Analysis

Unmatched potential for impact and returns

Identify high-quality projects with both strong return potential and positive impact through a transparent and standardized assessment framework, including our proprietary risk model and ledger.

Assessing nature-based projects is complex

Due diligence across environmental, financial, and social dimensions is essential, but navigating the complexities of these dimensions' interconnectivity requires a thorough understanding of the associated risks and impact.

Why we built Xilva GRADE

We created Xilva GRADE to make forest and nature-based project assessments clearer, faster, and more reliable—for investors, corporate buyers and impact-driven organizations alike. Xilva GRADE is designed to simplify and strengthen your investment due diligence process.

Is Xilva GRADE a rating?

Carbon credit ratings evaluate the methodological soundness of a project, typically focusing on how well it quantifies and issues credits. While helpful, these ratings alone don’t give the full picture of the project or investment.

Xilva GRADE is designed to go deeper. It supports investors, donors, and buyers by delivering a comprehensive due diligence process. We assess all relevant aspects of a nature-based project, from environmental, social and governance, and financial integrity to operational capacity, reputational risks and long-term viability. Due diligence is not a tick-box exercise; we provide investors with actionable recommendations to mitigate delivery risks, and help translate those risks to contractual milestones.

We Provide Assessments Across Six Interrelated Areas

Impact

Positive and negative impact assessment on nature, climate and social aspects.

Carbon

Biodiversity

Social

Impact

Positive and negative impact assessment on nature, climate and social aspects.

Carbon

Biodiversity

Social

Impact

Positive and negative impact assessment on nature, climate and social aspects.

Carbon

Biodiversity

Social

Financial Viability

Product-market fit, cash flow forecast, economic sustainability and risk management.

IRR (Internal Rate of Return)

Revenue and Cost

Financial Risk

Financial Viability

Product-market fit, cash flow forecast, economic sustainability and risk management.

IRR (Internal Rate of Return)

Revenue and Cost

Financial Risk

Financial Viability

Product-market fit, cash flow forecast, economic sustainability and risk management.

IRR (Internal Rate of Return)

Revenue and Cost

Financial Risk

Leadership & Team

Assessment on team-related delivery and reputational risks. Background, skills gaps and mindset.

Team Capacity

Track Record

KYC (Know your Customer)

Leadership & Team

Assessment on team-related delivery and reputational risks. Background, skills gaps and mindset.

Team Capacity

Track Record

KYC (Know your Customer)

Leadership & Team

Assessment on team-related delivery and reputational risks. Background, skills gaps and mindset.

Team Capacity

Track Record

KYC (Know your Customer)

Project Design

Legal and social licence. Strategic approach, robustness of implementation plan and management system.

Intervention Types

Species Record

Monitoring Plan

Project Design

Legal and social licence. Strategic approach, robustness of implementation plan and management system.

Intervention Types

Species Record

Monitoring Plan

Project Design

Legal and social licence. Strategic approach, robustness of implementation plan and management system.

Intervention Types

Species Record

Monitoring Plan

ESG Safeguards

State-of-the-art analysis on ESG Safeguards. Risk level, severity analysis and mitigation measures.

Labor Conditionss

IPLC Arrangements

Climate Resilience

ESG Safeguards

State-of-the-art analysis on ESG Safeguards. Risk level, severity analysis and mitigation measures.

Labor Conditionss

IPLC Arrangements

Climate Resilience

ESG Safeguards

State-of-the-art analysis on ESG Safeguards. Risk level, severity analysis and mitigation measures.

Labor Conditionss

IPLC Arrangements

Climate Resilience

Growth Potential

Potential of project to expand beyond currently planned area, impact, or operations.

PES Potential

Scale-up Opportunitess

Climate Resilience

Growth Potential

Potential of project to expand beyond currently planned area, impact, or operations.

PES Potential

Scale-up Opportunitess

Climate Resilience

Growth Potential

Potential of project to expand beyond currently planned area, impact, or operations.

PES Potential

Scale-up Opportunitess

Climate Resilience

Deep, Diverse, and Reliable

Deep, Diverse, and Reliable

Deep, Diverse, and Reliable

Our Data Stack

Xilva GRADE curates, pools and stacks multiple data sources to build a full picture of each project’s potential and integrity.

International and regional costs and prices

Sample data points

Financial model Market analysis Sensitivity analysis Regional carbon credit market Regional timber market

Sample Data Points

Carbon model Sequestration potential Baseline studies Regulatory compliance Key biodiversity areas

Production models, carbon and biodiversity references

Best practice benchmarks and safeguarding

Sample Data Points

ESG management system Risk management system FSC Standards IUCN Standards IFC Standards

Sample Data Points

Social studies FPIC compliance Environmental impact assessments GIS sources (e.g. GFW, Earth Blox, Earth Map)

Remote sensing, environmental, and social data

Reputation checks and database of risk

Sample Data Points

Key personnel CVs News media Legal databases Risk incident databases Investor profiles

Sample Data Points

Certification data Registry platforms Audit reports

Registries and certification data

Interviews with key personnel

Sample Data Points

Project developers Field partners Implementation staff Local communities Indigenous communities

Sample Data Points

Feasibility study PDD MRV plan Implementation plan Land access strategy

Project documentation

International and regional costs and prices

Example data points

Financial model Market analysis Sensitivity analysis Regional carbon credit market Regional timber market

Sample Data Points

Carbon model Sequestration potential Baseline studies Regulatory compliance Key biodiversity areas

Production models, carbon and biodiversity references

Best practice benchmarks and safeguarding

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ESG management system Risk management system FSC Standards IUCN Standards IFC Standards

Sample Data Points

Social studies FPIC compliance Environmental impact assessments GIS sources (e.g. GFW, Earth Blox, Earth Map

Remote sensing, environmental, and social data

Reputation checks and database of risk

Sample Data Points

Key personnel profiles News media Legal databases Risk incident databases Investor profiles

Sample data points

Certification data Registry platforms Audit reports

Registries and certification data

Interviews with key personnel

Sample data points

Project developers Field partners Implementation staff Local communities Indigenous communities

Sample data points

Feasibility study PDD MRV plan Implementation plan Land access

Project documentation

Download Our Guide

Download Our Guide

Download Our Guide

What are the key criteria to consider in effective due diligence?

Explore our in-depth guide to understand what truly matters when evaluating forest and nature-based projects.

Trusted by Leaders Worldwide

Trusted by Leaders Worldwide

Trusted by Leaders Worldwide

Trusted by Leading Investors in Nature-Based Solutions

"Xilva helps us to assess forest projects with the rigor and insights we need. As part of Nestlé’s Global Reforestation Program, we consider a diverse range of project characteristics when selecting a project for investment.

We rely on Xilva for independent third-party expertise to assess the benefits and risks associated with the supply-chain linked projects we invest in, both during the pre-investment phase and over ongoing monitoring. Their team is professional, pragmatic, and a true pleasure to work with."

user pic

Shira Le Cadelec

Forest Carbon Project Manager, Nestlé

"Xilva helps us to assess forest projects with the rigor and insights we need. As part of Nestlé’s Global Reforestation Program, we consider a diverse range of project characteristics when selecting a project for investment.

We rely on Xilva for independent third-party expertise to assess the benefits and risks associated with the supply-chain linked projects we invest in, both during the pre-investment phase and over ongoing monitoring. Their team is professional, pragmatic, and a true pleasure to work with."

user pic

Shira Le Cadelec

Forest Carbon Project Manager, Nestlé

"Xilva helps us to assess forest projects with the rigor and insights we need. As part of Nestlé’s Global Reforestation Program, we consider a diverse range of project characteristics when selecting a project for investment.

We rely on Xilva for independent third-party expertise to assess the benefits and risks associated with the supply-chain linked projects we invest in, both during the pre-investment phase and over ongoing monitoring. Their team is professional, pragmatic, and a true pleasure to work with."

user pic

Shira Le Cadelec

Forest Carbon Project Manager, Nestlé