Planting or restoring trees on land that was not recently forested. Carbon is stored in growing trees and soils for decades.
What the project does
ARR projects plant native or suitable species on land that has been cleared, degraded or used for agriculture. As the trees grow they take CO₂ from the air and store it in wood, roots and soil. The credits reflect the carbon accumulated over time, so a project's output grows slowly in the early years.
Permanence and risk
Trees can be lost to fire, drought, pests or harvesting, so ARR projects face a permanence risk. Registries require projects to assess that risk and usually hold a buffer of credits to cover losses. Long monitoring periods and clear commitments to keep the land forested help buyers judge the risk.
Species and biodiversity
The choice of species affects both the carbon stored and the wider ecological outcome. Monocultures can store carbon quickly but may offer less habitat than mixed native forest. Buyers increasingly look at species mix alongside the carbon claim.
Questions to ask before you rely on these credits
- Are the planted species appropriate for the site, and are survival rates monitored?
- How large is the buffer contribution, and how is the permanence risk assessed?
- Does the project avoid displacing food production or local land use?