New forest (afforestation)

What it is and what it does

A new forest provides shade, protects the soil, hosts fauna, and retains carbon for all years of commitment. Practices allowed by European rules:

1. 01Planting trees
2. 02Seminarli
3. 03Favor trees that regenerate naturally

Who can do it

1. 01Land: a meadow, a cultivated field, or land where scattered trees covered less than one-tenth of the surface in the last twenty years. This is demonstrated by aerial photos.
2. 02Area: at least half a hectare; adjacent areas of the same manager are summed if they form a single forest.
3. 03Species: more local species together; only one where the natural forest is like that.
4. 04Existing trees: no trees or hedges are removed to make way for the forest, except for invasive species or diseased plants.
5. 05A forest forever: when trees grow, the land becomes forest even under Italian law (D.Lgs. 34/2018); changing its use requires authorization.
6. 06Economic additionality: without the credits, the project you are undertaking must operate at a loss or yield less than how you currently use the land, or how you would use it at steady state without the project. A difference of even €1 is sufficient. This is demonstrated by a comparison between two economic plans, the project and the land use without the project, which the certification body checks.

For how many years

What is measured and how often

European rule at least every 5 years; Climate Standard recommends every 1 or 2 years, so that credits arrive regularly.

Putting numbers to the credits

1. 01Measured tonnes: the carbon that the forest has accumulated compared to how the land would have been without forest.
2. 02− Measurement uncertainty: at least 8%.
3. 03− Activity emissions: diesel, transport, fertilizer for seedlings.
4. 04− Collective reserve: depends on the risk of fires and extreme events in your area.
5. 05= Credits: one per ton of CO2 equivalent, each with its code.

• If you establish a permanent meadow, 12% of the soil carbon is removed.
• Credits remain valid until the end of monitoring, which the manager can extend.
• Market reference: approximately €45 per ton, the value of agricultural credits from the French Bas-Carbone Label (I4CE, January 2026): the new forest is established on agricultural land and follows the same CRCF rules.

Benefits for nature

A mixed forest of local species becomes home to birds, insects, and small mammals, and connects nearby forests. Every project must bring a benefit to biodiversity: with a new forest it is the starting point, and it is an extra argument for those who buy your credits.

Typical errors and what it is not

1. 01Calculate variability on individual plants: it is calculated by comparing the sampling areas among themselves.
2. 02Move the trial areas: they remain in the same spots, marked on the map, and are re-measured at each check.

1. 01It is not the reforestation of a burned or cut forest: if the land was forest, forest management is used.
2. 02It does not replace the CAP: however, it can be added to it.

Documents

How much it costs

No commission on the sale of credits. Receive a written quote before starting.

Other activities

1. 01Increase in soil carbon: more organic matter in cultivated or meadow soil.↗
2. 02Agroforestry: trees, rows, or hedges on land that remains agricultural.↗
3. 03Nitrous fertilizer reduction (N2O): less nitrogen fertilizer, or better used, without losing yield; only together with increased carbon in the soil or agroforestry. Not combined with new forest.↗

Can you generate credits?

Provide your land details, or contact us.