New offer for forest owners to save old-growth forest worthy of conservation
Trefadder and the law firm BAHR is launching a new offer for forest owners who have been denied government funding for voluntary forest protection.
Trefadder In collaboration with the law firm BAHR and several landowners, has developed a new method to protect old-growth forests at a faster pace without government funding. The initiative facilitates the authorities' goal of 10 percent protected forest by 2030.
Voluntary forest protection is a scheme in which a forest owner offers to protect a forest area in exchange for financial compensation. If the area has natural and environmental qualities that make protection relevant, and if the protection authorities accept the offer, the area can be protected under the Natural Diversity Act. The forest owner receives tax-free compensation based on the value of operating forestry in the area, while retaining ownership and hunting, fishing and grazing rights.
Unfortunately, the state scheme is underfunded, which has led to rejections late in the process and frustration among landowners involved. The new offer launched today could take the backlog of areas ready for protection.
Legal framework for private voluntary forest protection
BAHR has been responsible for the legal framework that ensures landowners conditions similar to today's state scheme for voluntary forest protection. Chairman Bjørn K. Haugland in Trefadder AS, who is also CEO of Skift – Business Climate Leaders, has assisted Kristiansen in working on the framework for financing from the business sector. In addition, landowners, including lawyer Jens Naas-Bibow, board member and investor in Trefadder at the forefront, contributed to the work from the forest owners' perspective.
– We are already experiencing great interest from businesses, landowners and the forestry industry in general. Now we want more people to contribute to getting the project started quickly, says Anders Kristiansen, CEO of Trefadder.
- Trefadders solution for private voluntary protection secures the conservation values in the relevant forest areas through funding from committed private contributors and reduces the years-long waiting time that many landowners have experienced, says landowner Jens Naas-Bibow.
Key elements of the legal framework
- Prioritizing old-growth forests with high conservation value, but which have been rejected by the authorities.
- Alternative financing from businesses and individuals to compensate landowners.
- Legal conditions and registered agreement for forest protection that corresponds to today's voluntary forest protection under the auspices of the state.
- Establishment of a digital and public platform with updated maps, analyses of protected areas, monitoring programs and status of red-listed species, habitats and CO2 sequestration.
- The platform will facilitate learning about nature, nature-based solutions and engagement in business.
Existing schemes for voluntary forest protection create a “win-win” situation for both landowners and our common natural heritage, but an increasing number of landowners are being rejected by the authorities despite high conservation values.
– We have now found an alternative solution to this. We need more concrete action to protect Norwegian nature, and we now want to contact more forest owners and business leaders who want to contribute to forest protection, concludes Kristiansen.
