From coppice to high forest

What it is and what it does

The forest is no longer cut at the end of the rotation period and becomes a high forest, richer in wood and carbon. What do you do:

1. 01Conversion thinning selecting the shoots destined to become main stems
2. 02A thinning program for the entire period
3. 03Commitment not to revert to coppice

Who can do it

In addition to the common requirements for all forestry activities (PEFC forest management certification, management plan, georeferenced boundaries: see requirements):

1. 01Coppice forest: documented as of the application date.
2. 02Rotation period: reached, or coppice thinning planned.
3. 03Program: of conversion thinning for the entire activity period.
4. 04Economic additionality: without the credits, the project you are undertaking must operate at a loss or yield less than the management set out in the plan, for example, from harvesting. A difference of even €1 is sufficient. This is demonstrated by a comparison between two economic plans, the project and the management without the project, which the certification body checks.

For how many years

What is measured and how often

Putting numbers to the credits

With European rules, from measured tonnes to credits, here is how:

1. 01Measured tonnes: the growth of the forest after the start, i.e., the difference between the carbon measured each year and that measured at the start.
2. 02− Measurement uncertainty: at least 8%.
3. 03− Activity emissions: fuel for construction sites, transport, eventual fertilization.
4. 04− Collective reserve: depends on the risk of fires, storms, and pests in the area.
5. 05= Credits: one per ton of CO2 equivalent, each with its code.

• Credits are valid until the end of maintenance obligations: the date is written in the certificate and in the register.
• Market reference: approximately 25-35 € per ton, the value of forest credits from the French Bas-Carbone Label (I4CE, January 2026).

Benefits for nature

A high forest has larger and older trees, deadwood, and cavities: shelter for birds, bats, and insects. Every project must bring a benefit to biodiversity, for example, large trees left to age or more deadwood in the forest.

Typical errors and what it is not

1. 01Expect credits immediately: in the first years, conversion thinning leads to carbon below the starting level. No credit, but no debt: credits arrive when the forest rises above the starting carbon level, and grow from the sixth-seventh year.
2. 02Count the portions where the plan already prescribes conversion: those remain excluded.

1. 01It is not a legal obligation: Legislative Decree 34/2018 prohibits reverting from high forest to coppice, but does not impose conversion.
2. 02It does not exclude public contributions: they are declared and entered into the economic comparison.

Relationship with PEFC Italia

As of today, there are no economic or other relationships between the two companies. Climate Standard has acquired the standard developed by PEFC Italia and is publicly available.

PEFC Italia establishes through the standard what can be certified and under what conditions. Climate Standard establishes how it is measured, calculated, and recorded, adhering to the provisions of PEFC Italia.

Climate Standard does not modify the parameters of the schemes established by PEFC Italia — eligible activities, risk rates, baseline assumptions: it applies and documents the application.

Climate Standard commits to communicating every operation based on the Standard to PEFC Italia (Section 14.6) and may request verification of Climate Standard's operations and project documentation at any time.

Documents

How much it costs

No commission on the sale of credits. You will receive a written quote before departure. For a few hectares, it is advisable to join a management group.

Other activities

1. 01Lengthening the rotation period: Postpone the maturity harvest set out in the management plan; the wood is harvested later. Commitment: up to 30 years.↗
2. 02Partial waiver of cutting: leaving standing a part of the forest intended for cutting, of at least half a hectare. Commitment: up to 30 years.↗
3. 03Reforestation: replanting a forest lost due to fires, windthrow or storm damage, landslides, or pests. Commitment: 30 years.↗
4. 04Regeneration protection: Protect young plants from browsing by roe deer and deer. Commitment: 20 years.↗

Can you generate credits?

Tell us about your forest and what the management plan provides: we will tell you if it makes sense to start.