hayedo en otoño

LIFE CO2RK
CARBON FOOTPRINT
OFFSETTING

LIFE CO2RK seeks to halt the decline of slow-growing forests in the EU by demonstrating and highlighting their role as agents of Climate Change Mitigation. By promoting carbon footprint offsetting for companies, the project fosters innovative models of sustainable forest management.

Cork oak, holm oak, oak, beech and chestnut forests... generate complex ecosystems with a great biodiversity of flora and fauna species. They are an asset in themselves, and CO2RK will demonstrate that despite their slow growth they have a great potential for CO2 sequestration thanks to the abundant and diverse organic matter with which they enrich their soils, together with the lush plant biomass.

General objectives

Thanks to its innovative approach, LIFE CO2RK not only promotes the offsetting of corporate emissions —a key element in improving companies’ carbon footprints— but also establishes a European benchmark in carbon forestry. With the support of public and private entities, it promotes a replicable system for environmental offsetting, while protecting biodiversity and strengthening the rural economy.

1

Mobilize investments for the recovery of the cork oak ecosystem

CO2RK aims to build and test a legal and financial architecture to mobilize investments for the recovery of the cork oak ecosystem from companies interested in offsetting their CO2 emissions to forest farms that certify silvicultural management that the project will have scientifically proven to generate additionality, i.e. a maximum sequestration of CO2 above that which occurs under current conditions.

2

Promoting CO2 offsets

LIFE CO2RK aims to promote CO₂ offsetting by raising awareness and facilitating agreements between companies with emissions and forest landowners, developing a scientifically validated methodology for certifying CO₂ sequestration, and registering offsetting agreements in the SACE (Andalusian System for Emissions Offsetting).

3

Halting the decline of the forest stands

To halt the decline of Fagaceae forest stands, especially those of Cork oak and Holm oak. The use of forest products will be encouraged, since only their (sustainable) exploitation provides the necessary profitability for owners to invest in proper forest management to ensure their health and future. Special mention should be made of cork, one of the few products that sequester CO2 during a very long useful life as a stopper in the best wines, insulating material in construction and industry...

Dehesa con CO2RK

Programmed actions

Each project action reinforces the role of LIFE CO2RK as a digital tool for carbon footprint offsetting. The Carbon Forestry Manual establishes scientifically validated best practices, the app enables precise calculation of CO₂ sequestration (in UDAs, Absorption Units), and the outreach programmes promote strategic alliances between companies and forest managers.

1

Carbon Forestry Manual

Guide with the forest management that obtains the highest CO2 fixation for each type of cork oak forest, so that forest managers can plan silvicultural itineraries in any cork oak forest and is easily adaptable to other Fagaceae (beech, oak, chestnut, holm oak).

2

App for calculating the CO2 sequestration potential of any cork oak farm

A web application will allow a landowner to measure the area of the stand he is interested in, indicate the typology, and choose the carbon forestry practices that fit his productive purposes to maximize sequestration, or simply to make it compatible with the exploitation of cork, livestock, hunting... and accurately estimate the ADUs (Absorption Units) that he would get and can offer as a basis for an offset agreement or contract.

3

Compensation Arrangement Encouragements

Through dissemination events and personalized advice, CO2RK will promote mutual knowledge and the signing of agreements between companies interested in offsetting their emissions and forest managers.

Alcornoques en descorche CO2RK

Localization of partners and stakeholders

Institutions participating in LIFE CO2RK

Consejería de Agricultura, Pesca, Agua y Desarrollo Rural