To ensure that carbon is really offset, we hold all our land in 100 year contracts, said Morell. It can t be used for logging or paper mills, he added. Morrell added that the forests should create biodiversity so that species do not loose their habitat. Future Forests projects are chosen only if they fit in with the landscape, climatic and soil conditions and with the needs of the local people. Only indigenous trees can be used.
Public access is a major consideration.
Morrell explained that when natural, indigenous, long-term forests are planted, people can enjoy them while carbon emissions are offset. While advocating greenhouse gas reduction, Future Forests assesses a company s greenhouse gas emissions to assist it in becoming carbon neutral, or absorbing the same amount of carbon that it emits. Energy use is assessed, analyzing utility bills, waste, and even staff travel. The amount of tons of carbon emitted is then calculated. When we know this, we have baseline figures where we can assess how many tons of carbon can be reabsorbed by the creation of natural forests in Annex 1 countries, said Morrell.