Biodiversity and Carbon

Trade Carbon from your forest

Ireland has a very low level of forestry. It is widely accepted that forestry is uniquely placed as one of the most effective solutions available to Ireland to meet its climate targets. Per Capita, our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions are the 3rd highest in Europe - see graph below , so it is critical that we address this as a matter of urgency. Forestry captures CO2 at varying rates over its lifetime. The sequestration rates could also in clude the value in the harvested wood products which continue t o store the CO2 in the processed product.

Green Belt provides access to a Voluntary Carbon Platform. This platform will provide the mechanism to value the Carbon stored in your forest, and to trade the Carbon calculated. Developing a Voluntary Carbon Platform is the best method to get your Carbon to market and verify your claims. The European Union is developing such a platform that will provide more comfort to forest owners. This was expected to be released in December 2022 but is still under development (as of July 2023). The calculation and valuation of the Carbon captured within your project is a very important metric. As the private forestry estate has matured across Ireland, more and more carbon is captured each year. New planting (afforestation) is the most transparent and straightforward method to significantly capture and store CO2 in the trees, soil and ultimately timber products produced from the forests and woodlands.

IMPACT The impact of investing into Irish Carbon Credits is promoting and encouraging further establishment of Irish forests. At 11% forestry cover, we are far below the European average and all activities that encourage the new planting of woodlands and forests across Ireland is to be embraced. This is a crucial step for Ireland to be engaged in to reach our target forestry cover of 18%.

The value of Carbon credits is forecast to increase on an annual basis, in line with demand and carbon taxes. According to the Department of Public expenditure and Reform (DPER), their quoted numbers suggest the price of Carbon credits on the voluntary market to reach €265 per ton by 2045. Establishing a forest now and registering the afforestation project on a verified platform within the first 4 years, will secure longer term payments, extending the forest income beyond the term of the annual premiums, and bridging that gap to clearfell, or your prescribed forestry management technique.

Green Belt can accurately calculate and report on your forests growth, productivity, future revenue streams and Carbon Capturing rates. This is an invaluable tool and is essential for the long term protection of your family's assets. Simply contact us and engage with us with your forest details and we will take care of the rest. It could also be combined with our Group Insurance Scheme.

Contact us today to learn more and earn more. Green Belt provides a Voluntary Carbon Trading Platform. Measuring, Reporting and Verification (Carbon MRV) of CO2 captured within your forestry and land is really valuable information. If you are trading as a private forest owner, or reporting from a corporate perspective, accurate and reliable data is critical to the virtue and integrity of your claims. Green Belt provides these professional services.

PERMANENCE Permanence is how durable the carbon benefit from an offset project is. This takes into account the risk of that benefit being reversed earlier than expected, for instance if a wildfire kills trees in a reforestation project before the end of the project's lifetime.,

ADDITIONALITY Additionality means that a project results in emissions reductions or carbon removals in addition to the ‘business as usual’ scenario which would have occurred without the project existing – so the project needed to exist for those emissions to be reduced or removed.,

FIND THE RIGHT TYPE OF PROJECT TO SUPPORT Speak to us today about developing your own offset practices, working across Ireland in local and community based projects. We have numerous, credible and valid options to explore and can work with you to create the 'best fit' for you, your company and your pocket.