Partial harvest avoidance

What it is and what it does

Same rotation extension method, but on a part of the forest. What do you do:

1. 01Select the area not to cut on the map
2. 02On the rest, thinning as planned by the plan
3. 03Renew, if you wish, up to three times

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. 01Portion: identified on map and georeferenced, at least half a hectare.
2. 02Planned harvest: from the plan on that portion in the current period, with volume and year.
3. 03Volumes: taken from the rest of the surface, documented every year.
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: usually negligible, because there are no construction sites; they are counted if you do thinning or care.
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 portion of the forest left to grow becomes an island of mature trees within the harvested area. Every project must bring a benefit to biodiversity, for example, senescence islands on the saved part, without removing deadwood.

Typical errors and what it is not

1. 01Recovering unharvested wood from the rest of the surface: the total removed cannot exceed what the plan allocated to the area, minus the saved part. This is checked every year.
2. 02To forget that on small areas the discount for uncertainty is higher: the sampling areas are fewer and the measurement is less precise. This must be included in the initial estimate.

1. 01It is not a total cutting ban on the entire forest: the rest is cut as planned.
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. 01From coppice to high forest: Stop harvesting the coppice at the end of the rotation period and start it as high forest. Commitment: 30 years.↗
2. 02Lengthening the rotation period: Postpone the maturity harvest set out in the management plan; the wood is harvested later. 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.