authority, indigenous community, non-governmental 
entity, private landowner, or any group of such per-
sons in a partner developing country that supports 
enhancing terrestrial ecosystem services. 
(6) EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS.—The term ‘‘emis-
sions reductions’’ means greenhouse gas emissions 
reductions and increased sequestration achieved 
from— 
(A) reduced, or avoided deforestation; 
(B) reforestation; 
(C) preservation of terrestrial ecosystems; 
or 
(D) enhancements to terrestrial ecosystems 
that will result in the increased sequestration of 
greenhouse gas emissions. 
(7) FOREST DEGRADATION.—The term ‘‘forest 
degradation’’ means any reduction in forest stocks 
due to the effects of human land-use activities, in-
cluding land-use changes driven by human activity. 
(8) NATURE-BASED SOLUTION.—The term ‘‘na-
ture-based solution’’ means an activity within a part-
ner developing country to conserve, restore, or better 
manage forests and terrestrial ecosystems to improve 
terrestrial ecosystem services. 
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(9) 
OUTCOME-ORIENTED
ASSISTANCE.—The 
term ‘‘outcome-oriented assistance’’ means a mecha-
nism for the provision of United States assistance in 
which— 
(A) a partner developing country, or ap-
propriate local partner in a developing country, 
assumes responsibility and must demonstrate 
the achievement of measurable results, or 
progress towards the achievement of conserva-
tion goals, that improve terrestrial ecosystem 
services associated with activities of an eligible 
project; 
(B) such measurable results are defined 
and agreed upon in a multi-year agreement, 
and described in section 4(d) of this Act, in ad-
vance of the provision of assistance by the 
United States for the eligible project; and 
(C) such assistance is expended to such de-
veloping country or appropriate local partner 
only upon independent verification of such pre- 
defined results. 
(10) PARTNER
DEVELOPING
COUNTRY.—The 
term ‘‘partner developing country’’ means— 
(A) a country eligible to receive official de-
velopment assistance according to the income 
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guidelines of the Development Assistance Com-
mittee of the Organisation for Economic Co-op-
eration and Development; or 
(B) any other country identified by the 
Secretary with globally significant forests or 
terrestrial ecosystems the loss of which is, or 
has the potential to, significantly contribute to 
the loss of terrestrial ecosystem services. 
(11) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 
the program established pursuant to section 4(a). 
(12) TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘terrestrial 
ecosystems’’ means naturally occurring grass-
lands, forests, tropical rainforests, mangroves, 
peatlands, or wetlands comprised of native spe-
cies 
generated 
and 
maintained 
primarily 
through natural ecological and evolutionary 
processes. 
(B) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘terrestrial 
ecosystems’’ does not include tree plantations, 
such as crops of trees planted by humans pri-
marily for the purposes of harvesting. 
(13) TERRESTRIAL
ECOSYSTEMS
SERVICES.— 
The term ‘‘terrestrial ecosystems services’’ means 
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the direct and indirect benefits that terrestrial eco-
systems provide to humans, including— 
(A) material or energy outputs from an 
ecosystem, including food, forage, fiber, fresh 
water, and other resources; 
(B) benefits obtained through moderation 
or control of ecosystem processes, including reg-
ulation of local climate, air quality, water qual-
ity, soil quality, emission reductions, natural 
carbon sequestration, flood control, erosion con-
trol, disease control, and pollination; 
(C) maintenance of fundamental ecosystem 
processes, such as habitat for plants and wild-
life, or the maintenance of genetic and biologi-
cal diversity; and 
(D) non-material benefits provided to 
human societies and culture, including opportu-
nities for recreation, tourism, aesthetic or artis-
tic appreciation, and spirituality. 
(14) 
SECRETARY.—The 
term 
‘‘Secretary’’ 
means the Secretary of State. 
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SEC. 4. VERIFIED INTERNATIONAL FOREST ECOSYSTEM 
SERVICES CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
program, to be known as the ‘‘Verified International For-
est Ecosystem Services Conservation Program’’. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Program shall 
be— 
(1) to enhance efforts to halt terrestrial eco-
system degradation and loss, and increase terrestrial 
restoration at scale; 
(2) to provide contingent outcome-oriented as-
sistance for the achievement of eligible projects in 
partner developing countries through incentives and 
assistance to halt terrestrial ecosystem loss; and 
(3) to enhance restoration of terrestrial eco-
systems. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall develop 
the criteria, guidelines, and processes necessary to imple-
ment the Program. 
(d) GOALS.—In carrying out the program established 
pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall work with 
the governments of partner developing countries and ap-
propriate local partners to identify, develop, and imple-
ment eligible projects that will or have the potential— 
(1) to help partner developing countries meet 
their forest conservation and restoration goals, in-
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