In a news story, originally from Lund University, headlines claim that "tree planting does not work as an environmental strategy" as they have highlighted challenges in reconciling climate benefits with local needs, participation and development in a project in Uganda. This conclusion was drawn from a field study where they talked to 56 individuals out of 5316. It is also a tree planting project of over (around) 800 trees worldwide.

There are always challenges that need to be taken very seriously when it comes to carbon offset projects - this is true for any type of project that is committed to development, especially as people are involved. This applies to all types of carbon offsets in tree planting projects and energy projects.

And indeed, tree planting projects work as an environmental strategy, both as climate adaptation locally, as emission reductions globally and as drivers of emission reductions in companies. Voluntary trading of credits from forestry projects (reforestation and conservation) is the second most traded type of voluntary carbon offset in the world, and at the highest value. We also need to reforest and conserve forests because deforestation is the second largest source of emissions, when it actually has an important role as a carbon sink.

In addition to carbon sequestration (which is the commodity), a very important criterion for any carbon offset project should be that it contributes to sustainable development. Just today, I read an opinion piece by Partners and experts in the Agroforestry Network calling for "investing in trees to fight poverty and climate change".

So the headline in this case draws conclusions on too small a sample. We spend many hours following up on the projects we work on, both successes and challenges. This includes occasional travel to our projects. If you are curious to join us, you are welcome.