Valga Puu's journey from first to join to first to earn

At a glance

Valga Puu, a key part of FOREKO Group, has always managed its forests with a practical, knowledge-driven approach. Their team saw the potential of carbon finance long before there were any real opportunities on the market for landowners to join.

So when Ecobase launched its first projects, Valga Puu didn't hesitate. They were among the very first to join our afforestation project, where they now have over 250 hectares, and committed their entire commercial portfolio to our improved forest management project as soon as it became available. Today, that foresight has delivered a clear result. Valga Puu is one of the first companies in Europe to successfully earn and sell internationally certified carbon credits from their forestry operations, proving that carbon income is a real, tangible revenue stream for a modern forestry business.

A foundation of knowledge

Founded in 1999, Valga Puu has grown into a major force in Estonian forestry, managing the full lifecycle of over 18,000+ hectares of commercial forest land as a key part of the FOREKO group. Their work is guided by a clear and simple principle: a healthy, resilient forest is the result of active, professional care based on knowledge, not just opinion.

This knowledge-first approach is grounded in their deep roots in the Estonian University of Life Sciences, where many of their key team members were educated and with whom they maintain close cooperation. It’s a philosophy that is visible on the ground, for example, in their use of precision thinning with lightweight machinery—a critical choice that protects the forest’s vast underground soil carbon stocks and biodiversity. This philosophy also directly informs their approach to carbon capture. They know that an actively managed forest creates a more dynamic and productive carbon sink than one left untouched and just to be.

From theory to tangible value

With a team that already understood the deep connection between sustainable forest management and carbon capture, the idea of earning revenue from this climate benefit wasn't a big leap. In fact, it was the logical next step they had been waiting for.

Before I heard about Ecobase, I had been waiting for a project like this for two or three years. The idea of carbon trading was already happening at the state level, and I was waiting for someone to come forward with a concept for landowners. When Ecobase presented it, the lightbulb went on immediately.

‍Albert Rüütel
Head of Quality Management, Valga Puu

After hearing Jaan Sepping, CEO of Ecobase, speak at an Estonian Private Forest Union webinar, the decision was made quickly. Valga Puu became one of our very first partners in early 2022. As an early partner, they saw the entire process up close: they witnessed the two-year journey to get the afforestation (ARR) project registered and were on the ground with third-party auditors during verification—guiding them to specific plots chosen by the auditors, watching them take measurements, and providing input during official interviews.

For Valga Puu, having witnessed the rigorous process of carbon project development firsthand, the tangible results are now just as real.

“We are the first in Estonia to have successfully sold our sequestered carbon, and likely one of the first in Europe. We are earning new credits this year and plan to sell again.”

Albert Rüütel
Head of Quality Management, Valga Puu

Building on the success and trust of this experience, Valga Puu also committed their entire 18,000-hectare commercial forest portfolio to our improved forest management (IFM) project as soon as it became available. For them, the decision was reinforced by a shared vision and a practical, landowner-first approach. They appreciated that the project's flexible design allows them to retain full control while adding a new, innovative layer to their business.

What’s next

The story of Valga Puu's partnership with Ecobase is about turning a forward-thinking idea into a proven business reality. By being the first to join and, most importantly, the first to earn a tangible income, Valga Puu has done more than just add a new revenue stream. They have demonstrated that integrating carbon finance into a modern forestry business is not just a future concept—it's a practical reality today.

The success of this model is now being reflected across the wider FOREKO group, with sister companies Karo Mets and Roger Puit, who were also early partners in our afforestation (ARR) project, are committing their own portfolios to the improved forest management (IFM) project as well.

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.  
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👉 Join our carbon project today