Arbonics first to market with Impact Forestry assessment

Key takeaways

• Arbonics launches a first-in-market Carbon Opportunity Assessment product to evaluate income and environmental potential for mature forests
• The tool integrates 50+ data layers and advanced growth models to determine project eligibility and carbon credit potential
• Landowners can visualise their forest's impact and make an informed decision to join an Impact Forestry project

In September 2024, we launched Impact Forestry in Estonia, an impactful solution that enables landowners with mature forests to delay harvest for 40+ years and continue capturing carbon. Subsequently, we expanded into Latvia.

As we’re committed to deep project quality, we were simultaneously working on our new Carbon Opportunity Assessment product— an adaption of our original tool for afforestation, only now, for forest conservation.

This product, a first in the market, helps landowners to understand the environmental and income potential of keeping their forests standing beyond the permitted harvesting ages, and visualise the impact of joining our Impact Forestry project.

Complete picture of current state and 50+ layers to assess eligibility

The Carbon Opportunity Assessment integrates data from national land and forest registries to map a complete picture of the site today— including site quality, species mix, age and density of each species across the plot.

Overlaying 50+ data layers to determine eligibility for the project, it reviews and analyses:

• Any restrictions on the land, such as existing preservation or nature restoration programs
• Anticipated growth trends for the species on site, to ensure they would continue growing and flourishing for the 40 year project duration
• Certain risks for certain species or habitats, for example, the spruce bark beetle attack risk, to ensure the site would have a high chance of success in the project

Figure 1: Arbonics’ Carbon Opportunity Assessment tool provides landowners with a comprehensive analysis of their land, helping them assess their forest's suitability for an Impact Forestry project.

Built-in forest growth models and credit calculations

The tool calculates projected growth rates and corresponding carbon capture if the site is left to continue growing. These calculations use species and habitat-specific growth models developed by Arbonics, based on millions of scientific data sets analysed across our locations.

It also calculates anticipated normal cutting schedule and subsequent carbon loss of this type of site, based on models also developed by Arbonics after analysing millions of data points on timber-harvesting behaviour.

Taking this into account, it determines the subsequent carbon credits to be issued as a result of this additional carbon captured through the project, in line with calculation logic outlined in Verra’s market leading and most trusted VM0045 methodology.

Figure 2: Arbonics’ Carbon Opportunity Assessment tool provides a detailed parcel analyses and projected income over the 40 year period, empowering landowners to make informed decisions.

Landowners can select different areas within their plots to bring into the project, based on factors like timber value, cutting costs, aesthetic value, and more, and sign up to Arbonics’ project easily and with all information at their fingertips.

This follows a wave of new technology releases throughout 2024 in our new core ‘Arbonics Trunk’ platform, and sets the framework for fast expansion of our Impact Forestry product into new markets across Europe.

For more information about how you can partner with us on an Impact Forestry project, please fill out this form and we’ll be in touch.