The Iberian Forest and the carbon markets

This event dedicates one afternoon to debating and promoting the role of the Iberian forest in the context of climate action, and analysing how carbon markets can provide additional forest revenue by monetising carbon sequestration and other ecosystem services, combining science, sustainable forest management, public policies and economic opportunities to value natural capital.

It is promoted by three partners: a Portuguese higher education institution recognised at European level in the agroforestry field; a public institution responsible for regulating and supervising the voluntary carbon market (VCM); and ME ATIV, a reference in the design and implementation of forest carbon and biodiversity projects combining them with social and environmental benefits.

The event will provide a constructive and critical reflection on forest-based Nature-based Solutions carbon projects. These projects support biodiversity restoration and conservation, the recovery of burned areas or areas affected by harmful biotic or abiotic agents, and the involvement of local and regional communities.

Experts and representatives from Spain and Portugal will discuss how voluntary carbon markets (national, European and private) are operating in the Iberian forest as a vehicle for investment in nature and as catalysts for territorial recovery. The discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges of unlocking the regenerative potential of this financial instrument within climate action.

Key topics will include: MRV (measurement, reporting and verification), additionality, permanence, leakage risk, carbon sequestration calculation methodologies, carbon footprint of agroforestry activities, European and national regulation, and the role of forests as natural and social ecosystems.

The event will therefore:

• illustrate how carbon markets can generate additional economic value by fostering investment in nature;
• demonstrate how Iberian forest projects can sequester carbon, restore and conserve ecosystems, including human communities, and increase resilience;
• bring together scientific, regulatory, economic and operational knowledge in open debate with civil society stakeholders, building bridges between knowledge and action; and
• promote investment in ecosystem services as instruments of prosperity, value creation, resilience and competitiveness.