Common questions about forest carbon projects answered

Forest owners

Feb 26

A guide for forest owners

What forest owners need to know about carbon projects

Forest carbon projects play a vital role in tackling climate change by capturing and storing CO₂, preventing deforestation, and improving forest management practices. Beyond their environmental impact, these projects offer forest owners an exciting opportunity to generate additional income through carbon credits.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

What are forest carbon projects?
What types of forest carbon projects exist?
How can Nordic forest owners benefit from carbon projects?
How do carbon credits work?
Common concerns from Nordic forest owners
How to get started

What are forest carbon projects?

Forest carbon projects aim to increase net carbon stocks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the forests to help mitigate climate change. This can be achieved through protecting existing forests, planting new forests, improving forest management, restoring degraded forests to enhance carbon sequestration - or a combination.

By nature, forests act as powerful "carbon sinks," absorbing CO₂ and storing it in trees, soil, and vegetation. However, economic incentives for forest owners to prioritize additional carbon capture and biodiversity remain limited, as timber harvesting is often the more financially viable option. That’s where Noora comes in.

We help professional forest owners access new revenue streams by implementing high-impact forest carbon projects that generate certified carbon credits. We take care of the entire process - from project design and monitoring to carbon credit verification and trading on the voluntary carbon market. The forest owner receives the majority of the revenue over the project period, while a modest portion covers verification, monitoring, and Noora’s facilitation.

What types of forest carbon projects exist?

There are three primary types of forest carbon projects, each targeting specific environmental goals.

- Goal: Establish new carbon sinks
- Activities: Planting trees on non-forested land or restoring degraded forests

- Goal: Prevent forest loss and emissions
- Activities: Protecting forests from being converted to other land uses

- Goal: Increase carbon uptake and storage and prevent emissions
- Activities: Using practices like extension of rotation age, fertilization, denser planting or managing competing species to protect and amplify the forest carbon sink and uptake

At Noora, we specialize in Improved Forest Management (IFM), enabling Nordic forest owners to generate carbon income while maintaining a productive forest. This approach incentivizes more sustainable management practices that enhance carbon capture and storage, alongside timber production.

IFM is just the beginning - Noora has plans to expand our portfolio with additional forest carbon project types in the near future. Stay tuned to learn more about our upcoming initiatives.

How can forest owners benefit from forest carbon projects?

Impact – Through forest carbon projects, forest owners play a vital role in combating the climate and nature crises, while helping businesses meet their corporate climate goals.
Additional revenue stream – Forest owners can access carbon income as a supplement (or alternative) to traditional timber revenue, offering an exciting opportunity to increase the revenue from your forest.
Risk diversification – Forest owners reduce reliance on timber prices by securing multiple income streams.
Stronger market position – As sustainability becomes increasingly important for timber buyers, Improved Forest Management (IFM) and other forest carbon projects may offer a competitive edge and strengthen brand reputation.

How do carbon credits work?

Carbon credits are the financial mechanism that makes forest carbon projects viable. When forest owners commit to improved forest management practices that increase carbon uptake and reduce emissions from their forest, we can generate carbon credits. These credits are typically purchased by businesses looking to take responsibility for their unavoidable or historical emissions - as part of their corporate climate strategies. In Noora, we make it easier for forest owners to access carbon income as a supplement or alternative to their current carbon income.

Noora’s first improved Forest Management (IFM) project works like this:
1. Sign up for early access - Register on the Noora platform and share your forest property data to see if they qualify for IFM carbon projects.
2. Discover your carbon capture potential - The Noora platform provides data-driven insights to assess what forest areas are suitable for carbon projects, and calulates income potential in your forest. A project recommendation is created based on these insights.
3. Commit to a project - If you decide to move forward, the Noora team designs a tailored project plan for your forest, with a comprehensive Monitoring, Reporting and Verification(MRV) plan.
4. Validation & project start - We handle monitoring and reporting of the project through satellite data and machine learning, and a third party auditor does the verification. The project is evaluated against strict international standards.
5. Ongoing monitoring, reporting & verification - We handle monitoring and reporting of the project through satellite data and machine learning, and a third party auditor does the verification. The project is evaluated against strict international standards.
6. Get paid for carbon credits - Certified carbon credits are issued and sold to responsible corporate buyers - and you start receiving payment.
NB! Forest carbon projects must be certified according to science-based methodologies to ensure that their climate impact is real, accurately quantified and additional - meaning that they deliver a benefit that would not have happened without carbon revenue. Carbon crediting programs like the VCS provide the foundation for verifying these projects. You can read more about carbon credit quality, and why it matters here.

Common concerns from Nordic forest owners

Will I lose control over my forest if I join a carbon project?
No. Carbon projects are designed to complement sustainable forestry, not replace it. You maintain ownership and decision-making power over your forest. However, once you commit to the contract period, you will need to follow certain rules and guidelines, but you will be actively involved in the entire planning process.
Can I still harvest timber?
Yes, but only after the project period. Improved Forest Management projects typically require abstaining from logging during the contract period, but selective thinning and other forest health measures may vary. After the agreed-upon project period, harvesting can resume as planned, and a new forest can be planted.
How much can I earn from carbon credits?
Revenue depends on factors like forest type, project size, and market prices for carbon credits. Noora helps you estimate potential earnings. If you are a forest owner, you may sign up here to get a free assessment.
How long is the commitment?
Forest carbon projects require a long-term commitment, typically 20-100 years, to ensure climate benefits are real and lasting. IFM projects are typically shorter (20-40 years), while ARR requires longer-term commitments. The duration depends on the project type and selected method, and will be agreed upon in the final contract.
What happens if a storm or forest fire damages my trees?
Forest carbon projects include risk buffers, meaning a portion of credits is set aside to account for unexpected losses.

How to Get Started

If you’re a forest owner interested in exploring carbon income, Noora provides a straightforward process to assess your forest’s potential.

Visit our website to learn more or sign up for a free assessment.

Noora empowers businesses to take meaningful climate action through certified carbon credits from Norwegian forests. By partnering with local forest owners and using advanced monitoring technology, we help protect and enhance nature’s role in removing CO₂ from the atmosphere - while contributing to local environmental responsibility and our shared, global climate goals.

Are you a forest owner interested in generating carbon income, or a business looking to make a measurable impact on climate? Get in touch with us to learn more!

Amalie Damsgaard Jensen