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A certified climate project combined with additional commitment


International + Switzerland, Schwyz
ClimatePartner ID: 1006
Improved Forest Management (IFM)Get to know the project

Forests play a central role in addressing climate change. Approximately 15 percent of global CO₂ emissions are attributable to deforestation. The Oberallmeind Corporation (OAK) Schwyz safeguards around 7,400 hectares of forest through sustainable management in accordance with FSC standards. This includes avoiding clear-cutting, applying selective single-tree harvesting and refraining from the use of hazardous chemicals.

At the same time, OAK promotes natural regeneration by thinning small areas, removing individual trees, and, where necessary, replanting with native species; timber is harvested in a way that protects the soil. In this way, the next forest generation consists predominantly of site-appropriate, native tree species. The timber stock is increased over a period of 30 years so that the forest is preserved as a carbon sink and as a habitat and recreational area.

This nature conservation initiative is part of a combined project.

Companies investing in this project support improved forest management in Switzerland and a certified international climate project – delivering double the impact. For every tonne of CO2 saved through the contribution via a certified climate project, another tonne of CO2 is reduced through the forest protection in Switzerland.

Currently, the project in Switzerland is combined with a certified reforestation project in Nicaragua (climatepartner.com/1249). This project has planted over one million native giant clumping bamboo plants across 2,361 hectares, while also protecting an additional 1,000 hectares of old-growth forest as a conservation zone

Combined climate project to date:

Project Standard
The project contributes to the the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Improved forest management for climate action and biodiversity 

Forests are true superheroes: they prevent desertification, purify water and air, store carbon, and are an important habitat to roughly 50 percent of all animal and plant species. Forests also play a key role in the fight against the climate crisis. Around 15 percent of global CO2 emissions result from deforestation, making forest protection one of the most cost-effective solutions to mitigate climate change. 

Improved Forest Management (IFM) aims to increase the forest's capacity to store carbon, conserve the forest and reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation. 

Depending on the project, different IFM measures are implemented: 

  • Extended rotation: Increasing the time between harvest cycles allows trees to grow larger, accumulate more biomass, and store more carbon. 

  • Reduced-impact logging: Selective removal of individual trees preserves the forest structure, and promotes natural regeneration. 

  • Build-up of timber stock: Less wood is harvested than naturally grows back, resulting in a continuous increase of forest biomass.

  • Forest reserve: In natural forest reserves, all logging activities are entirely prohibited within a designated area. This significantly increases biomass and promotes high biodiversity.

The project aims to contribute to these United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project facts

Climate projects generally fall into one of three groups: carbon reduction, carbon removal, or carbon avoidance. Carbon reduction projects reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a specific activity (e.g., improved cookstoves). Carbon removal projects remove carbon from the atmosphere by sequestering it in carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation). Carbon avoidance projects avoid greenhouse gas emissions entering the atmosphere (e.g., protecting forests from deforestation with REDD+ projects).

All climate projects are based on international standards. They set processes and requirements which carbon projects must fulfill to be recognised as a proven method of reducing carbon emissions.

Climate projects demonstrably reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved with various technologies, ranging from nature-based solutions to social impact projects and renewable energies.

What’s a combined project?

With combined projects, ClimatePartner brings together funding for international, certified climate projects with additional support for nature conservation projects.

Certified climate project
Nature conservation project
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