CarbonFix is a non-profit association which combined its
knowledge with experts from forestry and the development aid sector to
develop the CarbonFix Standard (CFS). Its aim is to set a high quality
standard that combines criteria on sustainable forest management, CO2-fixation, and permanence, without compromising its practical implementation.
1. Preconditions
The CFS sets preconditions to ensure that tree planting activities are
only taking place on areas where there has been no forest or staple food production before. Furthermore, only projects become
certified, which need the additional financial means from the sale of
their CO2-credits making it possible to implement the project. Built on these requirements, the standard verifies the following aspects:
2. Sustainable Forest Management
Climate forestation projects are about more than just tree planting
activities. Together with creating new forests, it must be ensures that participants act in a sustainable manner. Only through the successful integration
of ecological, social, and economical values is it possible to set-up
and maintain a climate forestation project certified by the CFS.
3. CO2-Fixation
Together with the certification process, the long-term CO2-fixation
of the new forests is being determined. As many different factors are
involved in calculating this, the CarbonFix Standard uses strict rules
which have been developed by the UNFCCC – the climate secretariat of
the United Nations. The document Guideline - Methodology [821 kb] contains background information on the calculative approach CFS is using.
4. Permanence
To ensure the long-term continuity of forests in case of calamities (such as wind or fire) the CO2-credits
are insured by a buffer of 30%. This, in combination with firm criteria
on quality and know-how of project developers ensures that the carbon
will be stored continuously by the created forests.
5. Transparency
Trough to the extensive webapplication of CarbonFix, everyone can see
where these projects are taking place, who is implementing them and what kinds of
positive ecological and socioeconomic co-benefits are generated.
Furthermore, every project has a 'news section' to update its carbon-buyers
and other interested people. Here, also visitors and neighbours of the
project can leave messages.
