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Forests

Forests are a source of ‘negative’ greenhouse gas emissions in the sense that CO2 is consumed in the photosynthesis process. In emissions reduction terms forests are often referred to as ‘sinks’ or ‘removals’ as they are reducing or sequestering carbon in the atmosphere. Therefore, every tree cut effectively increases the CO2 content in the atmosphere – while every tree planted increases the sink effect. Forest degradation represents approximately 25% of all human-induced CO2 content in the atmosphere.

Description of technology

In forestry projects that have the purpose of reducing CO2 through ‘removals by sinks’, a distinction is made between afforestation and reforestation.

Afforestation

Afforestation refers to establishing a forest on cultivated land that has not been forested in recent history, where the trees capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fix and store it in wood tissue. According to the UNFCCC definitions, the land cannot have been occupied by forest for the past 50 years or longer if a project is to be regarded as an afforestation project.

Reforestation

If a forest has been cut down recently and intentions are to re-establish it, in part or in full, it is regarded as reforestation. Reforestation is limited to areas that did not contain forest from December 31, 1989 onward.

Mangrove

Projects may also concern mangroves that simultaneously have the purpose of coastal protection.

Sub-types

  • Reforestation
  • Afforestation
  • Mangroves 

Methodologies

  • Reforestation
    • Large Scale
      • AR-ACM2
      • AR-AM10
      • AR-AM5
      • AR-ACM1
      • AR-AM1
      • AR-AM2
      • AR-AM3
      • AR-AM4
    • Small Scale
      • AR-AMS1
  • Afforestation
    • Large Scale
      • AR-ACM1
      • AR-AM2
      • AR-AM4
      • AR-AM5
    • Small Scale
      • AR-AMS1
  • Mangroves 
    • Small Scale
      • AR-AMS3

For projects based on dedicated fuel crops, AR-AM10 “Afforestation and reforestation project activities implemented on unmanaged grassland in reserve/protected areas” may also be considered.