Why Ecobase IFM projects fit perfectly Finland and Sweden

Sweden and Finland are two of the most forest-rich countries in Europe, not only in terms of land area but also in their expertise and dedication to forestry. Sweden has around 28 million hectares of forest, which makes up nearly two-thirds of its land. Finland follows with approximately 22 million hectares, giving it the highest forest coverage percentage in Europe.

These forests are not just valuable resources for the region, they also play a significant role in tackling climate change while offering a stable source of income. By adopting sustainable practices like Improved Forest Management (IFM), forest owners in Sweden and Finland can maximize the value of their land while ensuring the long-term health of their forests and supporting global climate goals.

Understanding Improved Forest Management

Improved Forest Management builds on existing forests to increase their ability to absorb and store carbon. Unlike planting new trees, this method involves making strategic, small changes to how forests are managed. For example, forest owners can extend rotation ages or adjust thinning practices. These changes boost the forest’s carbon storage capacity beyond what would happen under the common forest management approach.

The additional carbon stored is measured against a baseline scenario which is common practice in the region to maximise timber income, and this difference forms the foundation for generating verified carbon credits. These credits can then be sold to the voluntary carbon market, offering landowners new income opportunities without compromising the long-term health or productivity of their forests. A key factor is balancing forest growth and harvesting to maximize carbon storage without compromising the land’s long-term productive capacity.

Sweden and Finland have long been known for their innovative and responsible forestry practices. Improved Forest Management and forestry carbon credits complement this legacy and can be seen as a new kind of forest product. With increasing interest in sustainability, landowners in this region have a real opportunity to make their forests work harder for both the planet and their business.

How Ecobase works with landowners

Every successful project begins with the landowner. Our approach is data-driven, collaborative, and flexible, prioritizing landowner partnership. We ensure that landowners retain full control of their land while we handle the complexities of project development, auditing, and verification.

After receiving forest management data, we conduct a detailed assessment of the forest portfolio, modeling various carbon scenarios based on current and potential management practices. Based on this data, Ecobase provides individualized forecasts estimating the landowner’s earning potential under different approaches.

What’s important is that after receiving the analysis and understanding the carbon credit potential of their forest portfolio, the decision to join a project and determine future management strategies rests entirely with the landowner.

Carbon credits, however, are always generated based on verified activities, not projections. Annual audits ensure accuracy, and landowners earn credits and credit income each year, directly linked to their forest management decisions. Ecobase handles all carbon-related aspects of the project, including certification and monitoring. Unlike lease or rental contracts, our agreements ensure that landowners retain full rights to their land. Income from carbon credits is earned annually, based on verified performance. This system not only rewards responsible management but also provides recurring financial benefits.

At Ecobase, we strongly believe that long-term benefits arise from partnership. We specialize in helping forest owners turn their land into a source of verified carbon credits while respecting their long-term management goals.

Local expertise and reach

To make carbon opportunities accessible, Ecobase combines in-house carbon expertise with country teams on the ground and partnerships with experienced forest management organizations. In Sweden and Finland, our teams have so far worked directly with landowners managing more than 1,500 hectares.

However, to expand our reach beyond that, we are now collaborating with local partners who help engage landowners of all sizes—both smaller and larger than 1,500 hectares.

For example, in Sweden, we have recently begun collaborating with Forcap, a forestry-focused advisory firm with deep experience in forest management, capital strategy, and landowner engagement. Their knowledge of the Swedish market helps bring our IFM offering to a broader range of landowners.

Forcap is one of several key partners in Sweden. Ecobase continues to work with and welcome other stakeholders who share our goals of long-term forest value and climate resilience.

How forest owners can benefit from IFM and the growing carbon market

Forest owners in Finland and Sweden can now earn additional income from their land by joining Ecobase’s Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects. Ecobase covers all project-related costs and takes care of the carbon credit process—from project design and registration to audits and certification—so landowners can stay focused on managing their forest.

Importantly, landowners remain in full control. All management decisions stay with them. At the same time, carbon income is based on verified improvements in carbon storage—not future projections. This means credits reflect real actions on the ground, measured and issued year by year.

Interest in forestry carbon credits has been growing steadily. According to the State of the Voluntary Carbon Market 2025 report by Ecosystem Marketplace, Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard, under which the Ecobase IFM project is developed, was the leading standard in 2024, accounting for 57 percent of all traded credits in the Forestry and Land Use category. The same study also showed that IFM projects saw a threefold increase in credit transactions, and prices for nature-based removal credits rose by an average of 20 percent.

This rise in demand highlights that forest owners can now access a reliable market that rewards responsible forest management. And with Ecobase’s support, it’s easier than ever to turn good management into long-term income.

Building a sustainable future

For landowners, our Improved Forest Management projects offers a way to increase the long-term value of their forests economically and ecologically. This is not to replace traditional forestry, but to complement it.

“By integrating carbon credits into forest management, landowners can optimize their returns. It’s not about stopping harvesting, but rather managing the forest in a way that generates both timber revenue and carbon revenue. Balance is the most profitable approach.”

Johan Ekstrand
Country Manager, Ecobase Sweden

With Ecobase’s support, landowners can access international carbon markets while maintaining control of their land. IFM ensures that Nordic forests continue to deliver climate value, income, and resilience for generations to come.

If you’re ready to explore how carbon credits can support your forestry plans, reach out to Ecobase or connect with partners like Forcap in Sweden.