Forest-carbon credibility problems are still research problems as well as market problems
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Drawing on 2025 discussions among academics, nonprofits and forestry professionals, the paper organizes unresolved forest-carbon questions around six domains and calls for better transparency, open information, monitoring technology, safeguards and involvement of local actors and communities.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
For land and institutional decision-makers, ‘high integrity’ is not a single metric. Credibility depends on ecological durability, counterfactuals, leakage, measurement and social implementation being solved together.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
This is an expert research agenda, not empirical validation of a particular credit standard or proof that voluntary forest-carbon projects deliver net climate benefit. Its framing is primarily U.S.-based.
SOURCE
Journal of Forestry
View original evidence ↗
A U.S.-focused expert synthesis identifies additionality, permanence, leakage, MMRV, market structure and social–ecological effects as linked priorities for higher-integrity forest carbon credits.
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