Green Burial Standards

Green Burial Council Standards
for Burial Grounds:
LEVEL FOUR: Conservation Burial Grounds

"1) Meet the requirements for Level Two: Low-Impact Burial Grounds

• The facility, or a designated portion of the facility, must be reserved for burial that does not require the use of a vault (partial, inverted, or otherwise), a vault lid, concrete box, slab or partitioned liner.
• Decedents are not to have been embalmed or embalmed only with GBC approved nontoxic chemicals.
• Burial containers are to be limited to those made from materials that are nontoxic/nonhazardous and natural/plant derived, with shrouds allowed.
• An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) must be implemented, so as to prohibit the use of pesticide other than instances where it is required to eradicate invasive species .

2) Land criteria. A Conservation Burial Ground must:

• Be contiguous to, or in a position to augment the conservation goals of an ecologically significant park, wildlife corridor, critical habitat area, or permanently protected open space; or (with appropriate management practices) be large enough on its own to be considered a landscape-level conservation effort
• Operate only in areas of the property where burial would not degrade the land and the surrounding landscape
• Be owned by, or operated in conjunction with a government agency or a nonprofit conservation organization that is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity and in business for at least five years (the “conservation partner”).  The conservation partner must have legally binding responsibility for perpetual stewardship of the land, both in the operational facility and in the conservation area(s), and must set all conservation policies.
• Utilize a deed restriction (if operator is a nonprofit conservation organization that has been established for at least five years) or a conservation easement that incorporates these standards.  A conservation easement must also conform to all provisions of the Internal Revenue Code Section 170(h) and provide for public access to and through the site, particularly to connect it to adjoining protected open space, to the extent public use of the property is compatible with ecological goals.

3)Start-up criteria. A Conservation Burial Ground must:

• Conduct a biological evaluation including baseline information on existing geology, hydrology, soils, and topography, and on both existing and potential vegetation and wildlife.  This evaluation must be used by the facility designers and operators to ensure that existing site resources are not degraded, and that the potential for re-introducing native species is given appropriate consideration in design and planning.
• Conduct an evaluation to determine potential erosion issues and measures necessary to prevent them;
• Develop a plan for limiting visitation to sensitive areas as well as policies for families who choose "back country" or “off trail” burial; and
• Compile a plant list for use as memorial features for every area or "zone" of the property where burial will take place, and a list of plants appropriate for use in restoration and/or preservation of native vegetation.

4) Operations and management criteria. A Conservation Burial Ground must:

• Develop a plan for using native plants and for protecting or rescuing locally rare plants
• Establish an endowment fund to ensure the long term maintenance of the land and its trail system by setting aside at least 5% of all burial plot sales;
• Utilize excavation and burial techniques/technology that minimizes impacts on surrounding land, and protect native plant diversity. "

(http://www.greenburialcouncil.org/standards_burial_grounds.php)

Additional information about the U.S. Green Burial Council including the complete Green Burial Council Standards for Burial Grounds can be found here.

CAMPBELL PRINCIPLES FOR GREEN AND CONSERVATION BURIAL

Developed by G.W. “Billy” Campbell M.D.

"Level III. Conservation Burial

1) Green burial.

• No embalming fluids
• Biodegradable casket (but no endangered tropical woods, etc.)
• No Vault

2) All of the other requirements of “green burial in a natural setting” including highest standards:

• Diversity of native flora and fauna in the burial area is maintained or enhanced. 
• Good initial biological surveys 
• Careful in-site planning for trails and interment areas
• Linking with a larger “sister preserve”.
• Linking with neighborhood sacred space/chapels.
• Expanding educational opportunities through revelatory landscape design and linkages with area schools.
• Playing a role in conservation of rare plants or animals-for example by “growing out” an endangered species of plant on graves, with the excess production of seeds or plants used to restore other landscapes.
• Periodic outside biological audits.

3)Projects have a high degree of intrinsic social and ecological value.
4) Overall low burial density compared to contemporary burial.
5) Long term covenants or deed restrictions to ensure conservation values retained.

As mentioned in standard II, the main difference [between green burial sites and conservation cemeteries] is generally size. Larger landscapes can host a range of biological processes and social activities that smaller projects cannot. In a small space, creating a chapel, visitor center, artist-in-residence cabin, and handicapped accessible garden could easily overpower any “natural” aesthetic;  the need to create an endowment to keep such infrastructure long term would be difficult without very dense burials. In general, these sites will be 100 acres or more.

Memorial landscapes should not be defined by the green burials that occur within them. Generally, 90% or more of the surface area should be free of graves and infrastructure. The burial function would be an important part of the site’s identity and sense of place, but not the overwhelmingly dominant identity.

Specific steps to ensure that projects protect and enhance biological and social value (and that lead to excellence) :
1) Land selection criteria based on conservation science and community needs (3).
2) Visitor controls. Emphasis on quality of experience, not quantity-particularly in “back country” areas (4).
3) Association with a regional, landscape level conservation effort, ideally contiguous with a larger “core” natural area.
4) Thoughtful design and management to ensure that different uses do not conflict  with each other.
5) Permanent staff who know and love the site.
6) Development of volunteer corps.
7) Active programs for education, arts, scientific research
8) Development of rituals that bind natural and human communities.
9) Strong affiliations with community-based institutions, including those with conservation, education, scientific, religious or art based missions. This affiliation could involve ownership or co-ownership by these institutions.
10) A high degree of public transparency. 

Larger projects can include a more “tame” visitors area/ceremonial center that will be more attractive for some potential clients

Cremations.  Those seeking a simpler, less expensive and more environmentally friendly funeral and burial alternative often choose cremation. Cremation does use fossil fuels and in and of its self does not save land from development, nor protect or restore wildlife habitat. Projects like those of Eternal Reefs are notable exceptions. All levels of green burial projects can include cremated remains, and indeed some projects might require a heavy dependence on cremated remains to protect sensitive sites or to make the project economically viable."

(http://www.memorialecosystems.com/ConservationBurial/tabid/110/Default.aspx)

Additional information about Memorial Ecosystems including Dr. Billy Campell's complete Principles for Green and Conservation Burial can be found here.