This is a new native woodland afforestation project taking place in the Scottish Highlands. It is an area of 108.22 hectares with 154,464 trees planted, the majority of which are Scots Pine and Birch, with Alder, Willow, and Rowan included. This land was previously used for pasture, with this new area of woodland being planted by the Acheilidh Crofting Sheep Stock Club. The total carbon credit volume of this new area is 20,468 tonnes CO2e, which would account for iSupply’s baseline annual emissions 64 times over. Beginning in 2021, the project has a total lifespan of 35 years. Once the full carbon sequestration potential of the site is reached, the credits can be retired and carbon offset claims can then be made. The project is non-intervention, meaning that natural-processes are allowed to occur once the woodland has been planted. Intervention will only occur in the interest of preserving forest health, mitigating the impact of invasive species, or in-case of emergency.

As the planting of the woodland has now been completed, supporting this project now has an impact on area management and providing alternative income from landowners who can no longer use their sites for agriculture. These are two absolutely crucial elements to the afforestation project, the latter being particularly important to allow this project to stand as an example of the benefits that all stakeholders can receive from positive environmental actions.

The woodland is expected to have a massively beneficial impact on local biodiversity. As well as providing a new carbon sink in the Scottish highlands, the new woodland is located in a Special Area of Conservation, designated as an important zone for species such as the Merlin, Black Grouse and Scottish Crossbill. Crucially, this new woodland will provide habitats for local Hen Harrier populations, a species with a red conservation status. The area will also benefit terrestrial species such as the red squirrel and pine marten, both of which have been subject to significant repopulation efforts over the past two decades.