How we work, how carbon and biodiversity are handled, and what it means to plant or partner with us in Iceland. Can't find what you need? Get in touch.
About Reforest Iceland
Why is the company based in Switzerland?+
Simply, our founders live in Switzerland, and it keeps us close to the European companies we work with. The reforestation itself happens entirely in Iceland, through our Icelandic operation, on Icelandic land and with Icelandic people.
How are you different from other tree-planting schemes?+
We are a full operator. We don't just fund planting, we run every step ourselves in Iceland, from the landowner agreement to sourcing saplings, planting and long-term monitoring. That means real, documented, visitable forests, native-led species mixes rather than fast monocultures, and certification-grade evidence behind every hectare.
When do you plant?+
Because of Iceland's climate there are two planting windows: roughly mid-May to the end of June, and from late August to the end of September. Between those windows we are busy with stakeholder engagement, reporting and the many other parts of running the projects.
Where in Iceland do you operate?+
Our current land pipeline is in Vestur-Húnavatnssýsla and Skagafjörður, in the north of Iceland. We can work across the country, though, so if you have land or a project elsewhere,
get in touch.
Carbon and certification
What carbon credit certification are you aiming at?+
We are targeting Verra's VCS methodology VM0047 (afforestation, reforestation and revegetation) together with the CCB (Climate, Community & Biodiversity) Standards, and we design projects to earn the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles (CCP) label. Credits are issued and tracked on the Verra registry.
Why are you not using Skógarkolefni?+
Skógarkolefni is a solid national scheme, but its credits are not ICVCM CCP-labelled and generally sit at a lower international standard than Verra VCS + CCB. Our corporate customers need the highest-integrity, internationally recognised credits, so we build to the Verra standard.
How do you estimate the sequestration rates of different species?+
For up-front estimates we use the Icelandic Forest Service's growth and sequestration data, tuned to each site's climate zone and species mix, and refine it with locally measured growth. For actual carbon crediting the amount is not assumed: it is measured against matched control plots using remote sensing over time, so credits reflect what the forest genuinely sequesters.
Can we say our purchase makes us 'carbon neutral'?+
No, and we'd advise against it. We frame planting and removals as a contribution to climate action, not an offset that cancels your emissions. That is both more honest and safer under new EU rules that restrict 'carbon neutral' product claims based on offsets. We give you the documentation to support a credible contribution claim; how you describe it remains your responsibility.
How long do your commitments last, and what about permanence if trees are lost?+
Our landowner agreements run for 50 years, with a long carbon-monitoring commitment on top (around 30 years under the standard). Permanence is handled the way the Verra standard requires: a share of every project's credits is held back in a shared buffer pool that covers losses from fire, disease or storms, we monitor the forests over time, and we replant where needed. If a loss occurs, buffer credits are cancelled to cover it, so the climate benefit is never double-counted.
Is the planting 'additional' – would these trees have been planted anyway?+
Additionality is central to credible carbon crediting, and we take it seriously. We only credit planting that would not have happened without the project, and we document each site's situation before planting begins, including whether the land is already enrolled in or eligible for Icelandic state afforestation grants. Land that would have been planted anyway does not qualify, and this is checked as part of Verra validation.
When do trees actually start capturing carbon, and when are credits issued?+
Young trees start capturing carbon straight away, but slowly at first; the rate rises as they establish and really picks up after the first several years. Verified credits take longer: as with any afforestation project, first issuance is typically around five to six years after planting, once there is measured growth to verify. From then, credits are issued at recurring verification events over the life of the project.
Biodiversity and land
What impact on biodiversity do you expect from planting trees in Iceland?+
Native birch woodland is Iceland's only naturally forming forest, and it has been reduced to around 2% of the country. Restoring it brings back habitat for woodland birds, insects, fungi and understory plants, stabilises soils and slows erosion. We plant native-led mixes (birch, rowan, aspen, willow) rather than monocultures, precisely so we rebuild ecosystems rather than just store carbon.
Won't more forest threaten open-ground birds like the golden plover (heiðlóa) and whimbrel (spói)?+
It's a fair and important question. These ground-nesting waders depend on open habitat, and blanket afforestation would reduce it. That is exactly why we don't try to forest everything. We work site by site with landowners and scientists to place woodland on degraded or dormant land while deliberately keeping open ground where these species matter, and we favour mixed native species and open glades over dense, uniform plantations. The goal is a healthy mosaic, not wall-to-wall forest.
Who checks and measures the impact on biodiversity?+
Independent specialists. We work with Icelandic scientists to run baseline and repeat biodiversity surveys on each plot alongside the carbon monitoring. Under the CCB Standard we target, biodiversity outcomes are validated and verified by an accredited third party, not self-reported.
What species do you plant?+
Native-led mixes suited to each site: downy birch, rowan, aspen and willow, alongside hardy, high-sequestration conifers where appropriate. We avoid species considered invasive in Iceland, such as lodgepole pine.
Working with us
I'm a company that wants to maximise the carbon credits I get. Can we work together?+
Possibly, with one condition. We put biodiversity on the same pedestal as carbon, so we always weigh biodiversity when we design a project, even when that means generating fewer credits than a pure carbon-maximising approach would. If you're comfortable with that trade-off,
get in touch.
What do landowners get when they work with you?+
Improved land and improved income, which grows with their own involvement, plus a share in the project's carbon revenue. After roughly 15 years the woodland is hardy enough to tolerate limited grazing, so landowners can graze the forest again, and kept moderate, that light browsing is actually good for biodiversity, fungi and understory included.
What does it cost?+
It depends on many factors: the quality of fencing needed, the size and shape of the land, how easy the site is to access, the species planted, and more.
Get in touch if you'd like a bespoke offer that meets your needs.
Can a company name or dedicate its own forest?+
Yes, and we encourage it, as long as you're happy to follow our principles: putting biodiversity, the recovery of ecosystems, and benefits to local communities high on the agenda.
Get in touch and we'll set it up.
Can hotel owners work with you?+
Yes, absolutely. Whether you have land to reforest or want to offer guests a real reforestation experience,
get in touch and we'll find a way to work together.
Can individuals take part?+
Yes. You can plant trees in Iceland, give them as a gift, or follow your own trees as they grow. We are working on setting up a "Your trees" site where you can follow the trees you've sponsored. The gift option will also be implemented soon!
