Anchored Metadata

For credit classes, projects, and credit batches, the metadata field in the ecocredit module holds an IRI that points to an off-chain JSON-LD document. Metadata for these entities is accessed the same way:

  1. Query the Ledger (via gRPC, REST, or CLI) to retrieve the entity's metadata IRI

  2. Resolve the IRI using the Metadata Graph API to retrieve the full JSON-LD document

  3. Interpret the JSON-LD as linked data describing the entity's attributes, relationships, and supporting documents

The Regen Network Framework Working Group's is currently finalizing a RDF standardization for credit classes, project, credit batches and more. Once complete all metadata documents will share a standardized structure, making them predictable, machine-readable, and interoperable across applications.

Retrieving Metadata IRIs from the Ledger

Each entity stores its metadata reference in a metadata field within the ecocredit module. Ledger queries return a string like:

regen:13toVh9VgHfMJUDXSFTMQiDwRtiWQvhyeBpZe3jYpGMRnkZZB7jQyN8.rdf

This IRI is a deterministic, content-addressed identifier for the full metadata document.

Resolving IRIs via the Metadata Graph API

Use the Metadata Graph API to resolve any IRI:

GET https://api.regen.network/data/v2/metadata-graph/{iri}

The API automatically retrieves content from IPFS, HTTPS endpoints, or other configured resolvers and returns a JSON-LD document containing the complete semantic structure: context, types, relationships, and links to supporting evidence.

For full API specifications, see the Metadata Graph API Swagger docs.

JSON-LD Response Examples

Credit Class Metadata

Credit class metadata describes the protocol itself—methodology, eligible activities, impact categories, and governance structure.

Request:

GET https://api.regen.network/data/v2/metadata-graph/regen:...class-iri....rdf

Response (excerpt):

json

{
  "@type": "regen:USS-CreditClass",
  "@context": {
    "regen": "https://schema.regen.network#",
    "schema": "http://schema.org/",
    "schema:url": { "@type": "schema:URL" },
    "regen:coBenefits": { "@container": "@list" },
    "regen:creditingTerm": { "@type": "schema:Duration" }
  },
  "schema:name": "Biodiversity Credit Protocol for Umbrella Species Stewardship",
  "schema:url": "https://www.registry.regen.network/crediting-protocols/era-brazil",
  "schema:description": "The Biodiversity Crediting Protocol for Umbrella Species Stewardship (USS) provides...",
  "regen:creditingTerm": "P5Y",
  "regen:ecosystemType": ["Terrestrial"],
  "regen:primaryImpact": {
    "@id": "regen:Improved-Biodiversity",
    "schema:name": "Improved Biodiversity",
    "regen:SDGs": [
      { "@id": "regen:15LifeOnLand" },
      { "@id": "regen:13ClimateAction" }
    ]
  },
  "regen:eligibleActivities": [
    "Umbrella Species Conservation",
    "Ecosystem Restoration",
    "Ecotourism"
  ]
}

Typical fields: protocol name and description, crediting term, ecosystem types, primary impact with SDG mappings, eligible activities, applicable regions, and links to methodology documents.


Project Metadata

Project metadata describes the specific implementation—location, stakeholders, ecosystem characteristics, and activities.

Request:

GET https://api.regen.network/data/v2/metadata-graph/regen:...project-iri....rdf

Response (excerpt):

json

{
  "@id": "https://app.regen.network/project/USS01-001",
  "@type": "regen:USS01-Project",
  "@context": {
    "regen": "https://schema.regen.network#",
    "schema": "http://schema.org/",
    "geojson": "https://purl.org/geojson/vocab#",
    "schema:location": {
      "@context": {
        "@vocab": "https://purl.org/geojson/vocab#",
        "coordinates": { "@container": "@list" }
      }
    },
    "regen:coBenefits": { "@container": "@list" }
  },
  "schema:name": "Jaguar Stewardship in the Pantanal Conservation Network",
  "schema:location": {
    "type": "Feature",
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-57.489822, -18.040224]
    },
    "place_name": "Serra do Amolar, Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil"
  },
  "schema:description": "The Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP) is an NGO dedicated to preserving the Brazilian Pantanal biome...",
  "regen:projectSize": {
    "qudt:unit": "unit:HA",
    "qudt:numericValue": 40613
  },
  "regen:ecosystemType": ["Tropical Wetlands"],
  "regen:projectDeveloper": {
    "@type": "regen:Organization",
    "schema:name": "ERA Brazil"
  },
  "regen:projectOperator": {
    "@type": "regen:Organization",
    "schema:name": "Instituto Homem Pantaneiro"
  }
}

Typical fields: name and description, geographic location (GeoJSON), project size, ecosystem type, project developer/operator/monitor/verifier, co-benefits, activities, media assets, and start/end dates.


Credit Batch Metadata

Credit batch metadata documents the issuance event—monitoring reports, verification reports, and supporting evidence.

Request:

GET https://api.regen.network/data/v2/metadata-graph/regen:...batch-iri....rdf

Response (excerpt):

json

{
  "@type": "regen:USS01-CreditBatch",
  "@context": {
    "regen": "https://framework.regen.network",
    "schema": "http://schema.org/",
    "schema:url": { "@type": "schema:URL" },
    "regen:monitoringReport": { "@container": "@list" },
    "regen:verificationReport": { "@container": "@list" }
  },
  "regen:registryAgent": {
    "schema:name": "Regen Network Development, PBC",
    "schema:url": "https://registry.regen.network"
  },
  "regen:projectVerifier": {
    "schema:name": "Verifit",
    "schema:url": "https://verifit.com.co/"
  },
  "regen:monitoringReport": [
    {
      "schema:name": "ERABrazil Monitoring Report (2021-2023)",
      "schema:url": "https://regen-registry.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/...Monitoring+Report...",
      "regen:dataIRI": "regen:114EfLg2Xns4F5SCWQZ1f2EK1RqWNrqvQMTgPsFcvMBdwJNKGt2A.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "regen:verificationReport": [
    {
      "schema:name": "Verifit Validation & Verification Report (Jan 2025)",
      "schema:url": "https://regen-registry.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/...Verification+Report...",
      "regen:dataIRI": "regen:114ZqehBLYAzaroF7nHSYwEMTzPZW6isEY4gr2myxEhbFyUNWh31.pdf"
    }
  ]
}

Typical fields: registry agent, project verifier, monitoring reports with anchored data IRIs, verification reports, supplemental materials, and links to PDFs and evidence documents.


Upcoming Standardization

The Framework Working Group is finalizing unified LinkML-backed metadata schemas for credit classes, projects, credit batches, evidence, claims, and methodologies.

Once adopted:

  • All JSON-LD documents will share consistent structures across entity types

  • Developers can reliably parse metadata using shared vocabularies

  • New capabilities (SPARQL queries, schema validation, graph navigation) will work seamlessly across the ecosystem

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