?? Addressing Concerns About Tree Plantation Projects in the Carbon Business ??

At The New Forests Company (NFC), we value the importance of transparency and debate around carbon offset initiatives and understand the numerous concerns and challenges involved. The Rainforest Movement recently published an article addressing some of these concerns, specifically referencing NFC's Uganda project. Whilst we recognise the importance of open dialogue regarding the various methodologies and impacts of carbon offset initiatives, we believe it is essential to provide a balanced perspective on this topic, particularly regarding our practices and objectives:

?? Commitment to Certified Responsible Management and Transparency: NFC is dedicated to responsible forestry prioritising environmental conservation, community benefits, and ethical practices. We adhere to Forest Stewardship CouncilTM (FSCTM) standards on our plantations and conservation areas, demonstrating that our practices meet stringent environmental and social criteria.? We have worked with 20 community out-growers associations towards complying with these same high standards. We make our project documentation, including land use agreements, publicly available to maintain accountability.

?? Community Involvement: We acknowledge the concerns raised about the involvement of local communities. At NFC, we actively engage with local communities to ensure their rights and interests are protected. Our Shared Value projects create jobs, develop skills, and generate income opportunities for smallholder farmers and local cooperatives.

To ensure the outgrowers are the main beneficiaries of carbon offset revenues generated by the project, we, in collaboration with the farmers, have developed a contractual agreement stipulating as such.

In terms of NFC being the farmers' “1st option to buy mature trees”, we believe this is accurate.? In most cases, by the time the trees are ready for harvest, we will have supplied seedlings (most farmers choose eucalyptus, but the company provides other options) as well as training, mapping, and extension services, and we believe that by now we have developed good relationships with the smallholder farmers.? We are also usually the closest option for these farmers in terms of proximity, which reduces transport costs.? However, we have no contract on the trees themselves, nor on the land these trees are planted, and farmers are free to sell their trees or logs to whomever they want.?

Ensuring Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) is a mantra and the cornerstone of NFC’s stakeholder engagement within our landscape.

?? Addressing Misconceptions: While concerns about monoculture plantations are valid, our approach prioritizes ecological integrity by offering a variety of species and provenances and encouraging the protection of non-commercial conservation areas in the landscape. This balance of commercial viability and ecological sustainability helps avoid the pitfalls of monoculture practices.

We appreciate the points raised by the World Rainforest Movement around the critical issues within the carbon offset sector but we also wanted to clarify and provide context around our values and practices. We are committed to continuous improvement and remain dedicated to implementing best practices, fostering positive community relationships, and contributing meaningfully to global climate goals and conversations.

Feel free to engage and share your thoughts!

For more information on our projects and commitments, please visit our website www.newforests.earth.

The New Forests Company

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