We all want to take action on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to ensure future generations can enjoy our environment and a high quality of life.  Tree Canada is proud that its activities contribute to these objectives.  This section of our website aims to explain the viability of forestry offsets and how they relate to our projects. 

For more information, please contact us at tcf@treecanada.ca or 613-567-5545.

1. What is a carbon offset?

A carbon offset is a mechanism aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. One carbon offset is typically equal to one metric ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent volume of other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, etc.). Offsets can be achieved through a variety of short and long-term projects, including forestry (planting trees) and renewable energy (wind farms, small-scale hydro-electricity, etc.). Offset projects occur outside of a given party's own emissions.

2. How does the carbon offset market work?

Carbon offset markets can be divided into regulatory and voluntary. The European Union Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) is currently the largest carbon offset market in the world and acts as a market in emissions reduction. It employs a wide range of international offset types as part of the efforts by EU nations to meet their Kyoto Treaty GHG-related obligations. In the international market, companies, organizations and governments buy offsets to comply with caps on the total amount of emissions they are allowed to emit. These caps are set by international bodies on climate change.

The voluntary carbon offset market allows individuals, companies and organizations to offset their greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electricity and other uses. This market operates without caps outlining the limits on carbon emissions. 

3. How does Tree Canada operate within the carbon offset market?

Tree Canada is not an official vendor of carbon offsets. Our mandate is to plant and steward trees to improve Canada's environment, through such initiatives as the greening of city streets and schoolyards, etc.

Tree Canada has engaged 3^rd party expertise to develop a Tree Canada Forest and Urban Tree Carbon Project Protocol. This protocol outlines Tree Canada's tree planting process, how plantings can be used for GHG offsets, how sequestration volumes are assessed, etc.  Tree Canada expects that forestry science and global carbon markets will continue to evolve and will re-visit the Protocol periodically to ensure our activities remain relevant within the forest carbon offset market.

4. What does permanence mean, in relation to the carbon offset market?

Permanence refers to the longevity of a project sequestering carbon.  As long as a tree is growing or the wood is in use, the carbon remains sequestered.

Forests and trees are biological systems that can be affected by human or natural forces (fire, drought, invasive species, etc) and there is a risk they could be destroyed. Tree Canada minimizes these risks to trees we plant by employing our planting standards (explained in Questions 5 and 6).

5. What are Tree Canada's planting standards to ensure high quality projects?

Tree Canada has adopted a number of practices for our plantings to ensure project success:

• Tree Canada uses local expertise - in particular Registered Professional Foresters (RPFs) - to evaluate planting sites to determine their potential suitability and productivity, to select appropriate species, and to monitor projects as required.
•  Planting sites are reviewed after 1, 2, and 5 years, and any dead or dying trees are replanted.
•  Tree Canada guarantees a 60% survival rate, which is very conservative, given we have a 90% success rate over the past 15 years (see below)
• Finally, Tree Canada uses conservative estimates of sequestration volumes.

6. What kind of experts do we use to plan and verify our plantings?

Tree Canada's projects are second party verified. Our own Community Advisors and planting partners develop appropriate planting prescriptions to maximize survivability. These parties also assess the survival of our trees during the first, second and fifth year of planting. These trees must meet the criteria of a 60% survival rate. If trees are found to have dropped below this benchmark, new trees will be planted to replace those that did not survive. Second party verification ensures that we are monitoring the long term health of our plantings.

Tree Canada can also provide third party verification on our plantings - a carbon audit is performed by independent contractors for an extra cost.

 The new Tree Canada offset protocol will enable our organization to provide the additional assurances sought by some of our planting partners and sponsors.

Our Board of Directors also contains a great depth of expertise on forests and offsetting.

7. What is the success rate of our plantings?

Our planting audits have shown a survival rate of 90% after five years for the majority of our plantings. This is the equivalent of 60 million trees. The health of these trees will ensure they will sequester carbon, clean the air, and beautify Canada for decades to come.

8. How can I be sure that my money means a tree will be planted?

All of our sponsors receive a final report that details our planting activities with them that include:

We can also tailor reports to a given client's specific information needs.