How we calculate

The way we use land affects natural processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, or decomposition, which regulate the flow of greenhouse gases. These processes transform carbon and nitrogen in the soil and atmosphere through living organisms (e.g., microorganisms, plants) and physical influences (e.g., combustion, runoff).

The main greenhouse gases of concern are CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄. CO₂ exchanges with the atmosphere through photosynthesis and is released during respiration, decomposition, and combustion. N₂O is produced during nitrification and denitrification, while CH₄ is formed through methanogenesis in anaerobic conditions, enteric fermentation, and incomplete combustion of organic matter.

Other significant gases released from combustion and soil include NOx, NH3, NMVOC, and CO, which act as precursors for the formation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gas emissions resulting from these precursors are considered indirect emissions. Indirect emissions are also related to the leaching or runoff of nitrogen compounds, particularly NO3, from the soil, some of which can then be converted to N₂O through denitrification.

Greenhouse gas fluxes can be estimated in two ways:

1) based on net changes in carbon stocks over time (used for most CO₂ fluxes)

2) directly based on the rate of gas fluxes between the atmosphere and ecosystems (used to estimate non-carbon dioxide emissions and some CO₂ emissions).

The calculation of CO₂ emissions using net changes in carbon stocks is based on the fact that changes in carbon stocks in ecosystems are primarily caused by the exchange of CO₂ between the surface and the atmosphere. An increase in total carbon stocks is directly proportional to the amount of CO₂ absorbed from the atmosphere, while a decrease in carbon stocks corresponds to CO₂ emissions.

Emissions of gases other than CO₂ are primarily the result of microbial processes (e.g., in soil, the digestive tract of animals, or manure) and the combustion of organic matter.

Plant biomass, including both above-ground and below-ground parts, is the primary channel for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and respiration. Half of the absorbed CO₂ returns to the atmosphere, while the rest forms the net primary production of biomass (NPP). After accounting for losses from decomposition and other influences, this process is referred to as net biome production (NBP), leading to a long-term change in carbon stocks in the ecosystem.

Forest use affects NPP through activities such as deforestation, afforestation, fertilization, and logging. Logging reduces biomass in the soil, while part of the harvested wood stores carbon in products for years to centuries. Some carbon is quickly released back into the atmosphere, while some moves to delayed-emission reservoirs. In non-forest ecosystems (e.g., arable land, grasslands), biomass is primarily made up of herbaceous perennial and annual plants, which represent a smaller portion of carbon stocks than forests. This biomass is regularly replenished, ensuring a stable volume, although total stocks may decrease over time.

Most of the net primary production of biomass (NPP) eventually transforms into dead organic matter (= dead wood, DOM). Part of it decomposes quickly and returns carbon to the atmosphere, while a portion is stored for months to decades. Land management and land use influence the rate of decomposition and the transfer of carbon into fresh detritus.

The decomposition of dead organic matter results in soil organic matter (SOM), which contains substances with varying residence times in the soil. Some decompose rapidly, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere, while others (such as organo-mineral complexes) remain in the soil for decades to thousands of years. After fires, “black carbon” is also formed, which decomposes very slowly and persists in the soil for centuries.

The stocks of organic carbon in the soil depend on land management practices, which influence humus formation and the decomposition of soil material. Key factors include carbon from plant residues and its emissions during decomposition. Some practices can also significantly affect carbon losses in the form of solid or dissolved particles, as well as the intensity of management influencing microbial and physical processes in the soil.

Changes in management practices can either increase or decrease soil carbon stocks, depending on the previous approach and the properties of the soil.

Changes in soil carbon stocks due to land management will become apparent over several years to decades before stabilizing at a new level. In addition to human activity, climate and other natural factors also significantly affect the amount of carbon

.

We offer comprehensive services in the field of forestry carbon offsets: from their creation and verification to sales and subsequent monitoring. In this area, we provide extensive support to forest owners and other stakeholders.

• verified reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or increased carbon sequestration to offset emissions generated in other activities or areas.
• An offset represents 1 metric ton of CO₂ or the equivalent of other greenhouse gases.

Our local forestry offset meets all standards for creating carbon offsets and exceeds typical requirements in terms of quality. In addition to offsetting emissions, it focuses on protecting individual components of the environment, supporting a wide range of ecosystem services, and enhancing the resilience of forests to climate change.

1. Complexity
   We support the sustainable carbon cycle in forests through “improved forest management” measures, which take into account the societal importance of forests, increased efforts by owners, and the use of wood as a renewable resource. At the same time, we allow for the establishment of no-intervention zones as one of the options, thereby meeting the needs of a wide range of forest owners and the expectations of responsible companies.
2. Efficiency
   We are a local forestry offset platform, and for creating offsets, we efficiently utilize existing forestry reporting, which has a long tradition and high standards in the Czech Republic.
3. Transparency
   Our platform manages a public list of projects and a registry of verified offsets, to which it assigns a unique identifier.
4. MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification)
   Throughout the offset project, we ensure the monitoring of forestry measures, maintain detailed records of their implementation, and verify the final carbon sequestration.
5. Responsibility
   The forest owner commits that, in the management of other lands, they will not undertake actions that would lead to excessive increases in emissions in connection with the offset project.

1. Our offset platform creates a project that outlines the forestry measures for a selected area and determines the carbon sequestration potential. The costs for preparing the project are covered by the forest owner.
2. Based on the assessment of the carbon sequestration potential, the forest owner decides whether to enter into a contract with the offset platform. By signing the contract, the owner commits to meeting the established conditions for a period of 5 years.
3. The project will be listed on a public registry managed by the offset platform, with the specified amount of carbon sequestration. Responsible companies aiming to reduce their carbon footprint can review the details and potentially support the project.
4. Based on the agreement between the forest owner and the requesting company, a contract for the sale of offsets from the offset project will be signed. The contract will specify whether the company will purchase all offsets for a five-year period or if the purchase will occur annually.
5. Every 12 months, the platform issues verified offsets according to internal rules. These are registered in the public registry, and the company that purchased them can immediately apply them.
6. The offset platform retains a certain percentage of the price of the sold offsets. Another portion of the verified offsets goes into a fund to insure the risks of the projects.

1. Our methodology reliably determines the carbon sequestration potential of forests and the creation of offsets on specific plots of land. We follow the recognized standards of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and use a robust system for monitoring, reporting, and subsequent verification of carbon absorption.
2. The platform focuses on preparing specific forestry measures suitable for the conditions in the Czech Republic. These measures support carbon sequestration and long-term storage, forest ecosystem services, biodiversity, water retention in the landscape, and improved forest adaptation to climate change.
3. The methodology focuses on carbon sequestration and its storage in the above-ground biomass of forest stands. Due to scientific uncertainty and the complexity of measurement, the potential for carbon storage in forest soils is not currently addressed.
4. Our approach is based on data from existing forestry reporting and forest management plans, which we supplement with on-site control measurements as needed. In the future, we also plan to use remote sensing methods for earth observation.