A landowner's guide to key questions in forest carbon income

Over the past year, we've had hundreds of conversations with landowners and forestry professionals. It’s clear the industry is moving fast; forest owners are increasingly knowledgeable about carbon credits and are seriously considering them as a new income stream. However, this new market is also complex, and we see that the path forward isn't always clear.

In all our discussions, we’ve noticed the questions consistently boil down to two main topics: How much can I actually earn? And which project developer should I go with?

These aren’t just practical questions. They reflect a deeper desire to understand if this new opportunity fits with the work you’ve already been doing for years, maybe even generations. Carbon credits can offer real value, but like anything in forestry, the details matter. This guide will break down these two key questions to help you find the answers that work for your land.

How much can I earn from carbon credits?

It's natural to want to understand financials. In a new market, it’s important to look beyond high price promises and understand how value is actually created.

What determines your forest's earning potential?  

Carbon credit income isn’t one-size-fits-all; the number of credits you can generate depends entirely on your forest’s unique characteristics and your management decisions. The potential is influenced by a combination of factors:

• Your forest's net standing volume

• The tree species mix

• The age structure of your stands

• The site productivity (bonity)

• Your philosophy on managing your forest

• Dynamic carbon market prices

From a general idea to a specific forecast

Because of these variables, generic "earnings per hectare" figures can be misleading. In our analyses, we have seen neighboring properties show vastly different income potentials. The only way to understand what your forest can earn is through analysis of your forest data, which is why we believe that offering free, no strings attached analysis based on your data is the best way to understand your income potential.

At Ecobase, we take a portfolio-based approach, looking at your entire forest portfolio as a single unit. We analyze your entire forest portfolio to show how your management style can directly affect your earnings. We understand that timber harvests and carbon credits can both contribute to the value of your forest portfolio, and our portfolio-based approach allows you to align environmental and financial outcomes over time. And of course, while projections are essential for planning, the actual income will always depend on your forest’s verified performance over time.  

Choosing the right partner for your Improved Forest Management (IFM) journey

This might seem like a topic where we’re biased, but our goal is to equip you with the right questions to ask any developer. Here are a few key areas to assess.

Proven experience and market access

Does the developer speak from real-world market experience or rely on estimations? Look for a partner with proven capabilities. A key part of this is their choice of standard. An internationally respected standard like Verra opens the door to a global market, while a local system may limit where your credits can be sold. Ecobase's expertise with the Verra standard is already established; we have successfully taken forestry projects through the full lifecycle of registration, issuance, and sales to major partners like Rubicon Carbon (whose clients include Microsoft). This proven capability in the market, where we've seen over €100 million in credit purchase offers, shows clearly the strong global demand we can tap into for high-quality European forestry credits.

A clear timeline to revenue

How quickly can you start earning? Project registration can be a multi-year process, which can mean a significant delay in your income as a forest owner. It is crucial to understand how far along a developer's project you are talking about is. Ecobase is already issuing credits for our afforestation project and is on track with issuing the first credits from our Improved Forest Management project at the end of 2026.

Furthermore, ask how often monitoring occurs. We conduct annual monitoring and verification to issue new credits, creating a regular income opportunity for you.

Flexibility and landowner freedom

Perhaps the most important question is this: what does joining a project actually mean for you as the landowner? The European carbon market is new and will evolve. Hence we understand that a partnership should be built on flexibility.

At Ecobase, we’ve designed our approach around landowner freedom. You always remain in full control of your land and your forest strategy. There are no upfront project costs from us, and if you ever decide to leave the project, you can without penalties. Any income you’ve earned stays with you. We want you to work with us because our service is the best, not because we've locked you into a contract with difficulties to leave.

Carbon credits aren't magic, but they can be a profitable part of a long-term, climate-smart forestry strategy. We encourage you to ask questions and expect clear answers.

If you are looking for a partner with a proven track record who values your freedom and can help you start earning sooner, we invite you to have a conversation with us.