New program – CO2 certificates from the forest: nature conservation or bogus solution? – News


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Forest owners in Lucerne sell CO2 certificates. According to Pro Natura, this is not a solution in the fight against climate change.

More than a quarter of the canton of Lucerne consists of forest. Specifically, it is 40,000 hectares, which is a considerable amount. In addition, the Lucerne forest is basically “sustainably structured and vital”, as a study by the canton shows. A large proportion of forest owners are now taking advantage of this and would like to earn money from it.

We want to ensure forest maintenance.

Starting next summer, you will be selling so-called CO2 certificates. With these, companies and other organizations can offset their carbon dioxide emissions in order to have a better climate balance. “The forest is a large store of CO2 and we would like to exploit this function,” says Martin Hafner, President of the “Forest Climate Protection Lucerne” association.

Maintain forest stock instead of increasing it

The fact is that forest owners are earning less and less money from the sale of wood, but forest care is becoming more complex due to climate change. “We want to ensure this care,” says Hafner. Up to one million francs can be earned with the certificates per year and this money should be put back into the forest.

With the program, the forest owners involved undertake to keep the forest at a high level. They are allowed to use less wood than is legally permitted, which means that the forest stores more CO2. In order to still earn money, they sell the CO2 certificates.

Greenwashing or not?

The nature conservation organizations are critical of the project by the Lucerne forest owners. “The system with the certificates is not sustainable,” says Elena Strozzi from Pro Natura. “We have to massively reduce our CO2 emissions and the certificates make no real contribution to this.” They would ensure that companies can continue as before and that the pollution on paper is still reduced.

Martin Hafner from “Forest Climate Protection Lucerne” rejects this accusation of so-called “greenwashing”. “I can put my hand in the fire that the funds are used wisely. For a greater diversity of the forest.» For example, they want to promote rare tree species such as linden or sweet chestnuts and thereby increase biodiversity.

local approach

In addition, the Lucerne forest owners want to sell their certificates primarily to local companies. “We have decided not to work with absolutely everyone,” says Hafner. “It should be companies that are economically anchored here and pay taxes.” The first Central Swiss companies have already expressed an interest.

There are sympathy points at Pro Natura for this regional approach. Nevertheless, Elena Strozzi repeats her argument that these certificates are not an effective solution in the fight against climate change. “It cannot be that we use the forests to be able to maintain our lifestyle.” The CO2 must be reduced and not compensated.

SRF 1, regional journal Central Switzerland, November 21, 2022, 12:03 p.m.;

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