A low-risk pathway into carbon for Arvidsjaur Allmänning

At a glance

Arvidsjaur Allmänning is a unique Swedish Common Forest (Allmänning) managing 27,000 hectares of commercial forest land in Northern Sweden for over 1,600 shareholders. Guided by the principle of "generational justice", Chief Forest Manager Fredrik Gustafsson and his board focus on stable, long-term forest management that minimizes risk and ensures an even return across generations. While open to new opportunities like carbon finance, their primary concern was avoiding inflexible commitments in a swiftly developing market. Ecobase's transparent communication and landowner-centric project design provided the necessary low-risk entry point, giving them the confidence to join our Improved Forest Management (IFM) project.

Generational justice in the forest

Arvidsjaur Allmänning represents a uniquely Swedish model established in the late 19th century. When Crown land in northern Sweden was privatized, part of the forest land was set aside as forest commons (Allmänningar). It is a form of collective private ownership where shares in the Allmänning are tied to individual private properties within the Arvidsjaur municipality. Today, over 1,600 shareholders entrust the management of the vast 27,000-hectare productive forest to a professional team led by Chief Forest Manager Fredrik Gustafsson, overseen by a board representing the shareholders.

Their guiding principle is "generational justice." As Fredrik explains, the core goal is to maintain a steady, even flow of value to shareholders over the long term, avoiding sharp peaks and troughs. "We're really long term in our way of managing the forest," he notes. This translates into a management approach focused on balancing economic opportunities with careful risk mitigation. For decades, a key focus has been actively managing the forest's age structure to avoid the risks associated with having too much old growth—a proactive strategy that distinguishes them. Their management intensity follows the Swedish principle of lagom—not too high, not too low, but just right for sustainable, long-term returns

Finding a low-risk path to a new market

Like many forward-thinking forestry organizations, Arvidsjaur Allmänning was aware of carbon credits as a concept. Fredrik Gustafsson had previous exposure to forestry carbon projects and the market from his previous role, and he understood the mechanics and the potential well. Both he and the board were open to exploring new business opportunities and felt strongly about investigating the carbon market in practice. However, the rapidly evolving nature of the voluntary carbon market presented a challenge.

Their primary concern wasn't science; it was the commitment. Long-term, inflexible contracts were simply not an option, especially when managing assets on behalf of others in an evolving market.

"We are in a really early stage in a new market. We don't really know what it's gonna give us, so we're not willing to sign a fifty-year contract without any possibility to exit. This is something we really feel that strongly about." ‍

Fredrik Gustafsson,
Chief Forest Manager, Arvidsjaur Allmänning

They needed a partner who understood this perspective and offered a structure that respected it. The dialogue with Ecobase, initiated through Country Manager Johan Ekstrand, felt different. Fredrik highlights the quality of the interaction as key to building trust. He notes the high level of professionalism throughout the process, highlighting the direct engagement where the Ecobase team participated in board meetings to explain the project in detail and answer questions.

It was this combination—a project structure and cooperation model that understands landowner realities and has the landowner at its core, coupled with a partnership built on transparent, professional communication—that gave Arvidsjaur Allmänning the confidence to join Ecobase's IFM project. It provided the low-risk entry point they needed.

Looking Ahead

Arvidsjaur Allmänning will continue its careful, long-term management strategy, balancing timber production with forest health and risk mitigation. They see carbon credits as a welcome potential income stream. "I don't know if it's gonna be a side income or main income in five years to come," Fredrik says, "but we're for sure interested in being in that market."

He also highlights carbon income's potential to influence future management decisions outside of his management, noting that many shareholders would prefer the choice between harvesting or earning income from standing forests, especially if management practices like slightly extending rotation ages can be rewarded. The key will be for now to show tangible results. If the model proves successful for the Arvidsjaur Allmänning, they are interested in exploring ways to help their individual shareholders participate with their own properties.

Partner with Ecobase  

If you are interested in unlocking the full environmental and economic potential of your land and forests through carbon finance, Ecobase is here to guide you through the complexities. With deep experience in both forestry and carbon markets, we take a transparent, partnership-based approach with landowners. We handle the carbon project side, so you can focus on managing your land for long-term sustainable environmental and economic value.  

👉 Join our carbon project today