Natural capital asset manager Oxygen Conservation and Burges Salmon, a UK law firm known for its expertise in environmental law, have formed a £1m (€1.2m) carbon partnership, aiming to reshape the voluntary carbon market.

The partnership focuses on long-term, transparent investments in ecosystem recovery, biodiversity, and social impact, moving away from simple, one-off carbon offsets.

The agreement sees the law firm acquire up to 8,000 high-integrity carbon credits at £125 per tonne, funding a major nature restoration project on the Leighon Estate in Dartmoor, Devon.

The credits, validated under the UK Woodland Carbon Code and verified by the Soil Association, will be generated through large-scale native woodland creation and restoration of ancient Atlantic rainforest.

Rich Stockdale, CEO of Oxygen Conservation, said: “Selling our first credits to Burges Salmon is more than a transaction—it’s a demonstration that premium, values-led environmental assets are an investable, scalable solution.”

Managed by Oxygen Conservation and owned by The Dixon Foundation, the 861-acre Leighon Estate is one of the UK’s most ambitious nature restoration sites, the partners said.

They added that by using a combination of natural regeneration, targeted tree planting, and drone-based monitoring, the project delivers far-reaching benefits—from improved biodiversity and water quality to rural jobs and environmental education.

Ross Fairley, Burges Salmon’s new senior partner and an environmental law specialist, said: “This partnership helps set a new benchmark for how responsible organisations can engage with nature.

“We’re proud to lead by example in supporting solutions that go beyond carbon to address the climate and ecological crises holistically.”

With an approved science-based carbon reduction target, Burges Salmon said it is using this partnership to address unavoidable residual emissions in a way that aligns with its environmental values and long-term sustainability goals.

Together, the partners added that their aim is to create a replicable model for others to follow—proving that when carbon credits are rooted in integrity, transparency, and real impact, they can drive powerful change.

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