Activity · Climate Standard Methodologies on the PEFC program

Reforestation

PEFC 12.10.1.4

Replant a forest lost due to fires, windthrow or storm damage, landslides, or pests, where it would struggle to return on its own: the forest returns sooner, and the carbon it accumulates becomes credits.

What it is and what it does

The forest regenerates sooner than it would naturally. What do you do:

  1. 01Plant species suitable for the place and climate
  2. 02Respect the planting density of the regional rules
  3. 03Care for the saplings in the first years

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. 01Forest area: with tree cover absent or below 10%.
  2. 02Event: that caused the loss of the forest, documented with satellite maps or images.
  3. 03Species: suitable for today's and tomorrow's climate, with density consistent with regional rules.
  4. 04Economic additionality: without the credits, the activity costs must not be covered by revenues or public contributions. A deficit of even €1 is sufficient. This is demonstrated by the cost and contribution account for the entire duration, which the certification body checks.

For how many years

ItemValue
Activity period20 years, without renewals
Monitoring after completion10 years
Minimum commitment30 years, including checks

What is measured and how often

What is measured: Carbon in wood and roots, measured on the same permanent sampling areas, with the same numbered and re-measured plants every year.
How often is it certified: annually: field surveys, certification body inspection, and credits for the period.

Putting numbers to the credits

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

  1. 01Measured tonnes: the carbon from only planted and living trees; surviving trees and spontaneous regeneration do not count.
  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 mixed forest of local species reconstructs lost habitat and protects the soil from erosion. Every project must bring a benefit to biodiversity, for example, the mixed composition with native species.

Typical errors and what it is not

Typical errors:
  1. 01Underestimate the seedling mortality: every lost plant reduces the credits.
  2. 02To forget the risk: in areas already affected by fire, more than half of the credits go to the collective reserve.
What it is not:
  1. 01It is not new forest: the forest was already there. A new forest on a meadow or field follows the CRCF rules: New forest (afforestation).
  2. 02The part that the law already requires reforestation for is not counted: only the extra square meters are counted.

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

CS-PEFC-GEN-001Common requirements for forestry activitiesv1.5
CS-PEFC-MET-001The five forestry methodologiesv1.6
Models and tools for designersYou will be given after the first assessment.

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.

See the costs

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. 03Partial waiver of cutting: leaving standing a part of the forest intended for cutting, of at least half a hectare. Commitment: up to 30 years.↗
  4. 04Regeneration protection: Protect young plants from browsing by roe deer and deer. Commitment: 20 years.↗
Do you have a field or want to plant a new forest? Discover CRCF activitiesDo you have different projects? Write to us

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.

Check if you can generate creditsWrite to us