For forest-carbon developers
Trees Remove Methane
Through Their Bark
measured this uptake across upland forests. Current forest-carbon methods do not include it. SelvaFlux measures bark methane uptake and is developing the method needed for potential registry crediting.
Future credits would require an eligible host project, an approved methane method, measured net uptake above the applicable baseline, and independent verification.
Say you’re a forest-carbon developer.
The Numbers Don’t Add Up
Many reforestation projects cannot cover their full development, measurement, and verification costs at current credit prices. Revenue also begins years after the first expenses. Projects that cannot raise capital during that gap do not proceed.
Demand Exceeds High-Integrity Supply
Buyers have made hundreds of millions in advance commitments for nature-based credits. The available supply of high-integrity projects remains limited. Many projects do not cover their full costs at the prices buyers currently pay.
Standard project accounts do not include methane uptake through tree bark.
Tree Bark Removes Methane From the Air
Methane is the second-largest contributor to current warming after CO₂. Microbes in tree bark remove methane from the air. Standard forest-carbon accounting does not include this uptake.
SelvaFlux measures the uptake and is developing the crediting methodology. Under an approved method, we would coordinate the independent verification required by the registry.
How We Measure It
We measure methane uptake at tree bark and scale it across the site using field surveys, terrestrial laser scanning, and remote sensing. We are also developing the crediting methodology. Under an approved method, we would coordinate the independent verification required by the registry. Bark methane measurement does not require a change to forest management. Future credit eligibility would still depend on the host project’s baseline and additionality and on the requirements of an approved methane method.
Projected Annual Net Revenue
Estimates by project area and credit price.
| Project size | $20 / t | $50 / t | $75 / t |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ha | $6.3k | $15.9k | $23.8k |
| 10,000 ha | $63k | $159k | $238k |
| 50,000 ha | $317k | $793k | $1.19M |
A project estimate could be about one-third above or below these values, depending on species, growth rate, and site conditions.
The calculation applies GWP100. It assumes uptake near the upper end of the values measured in warm tropical forests. Uptake development in restored forests has not been measured. The table shows annual project revenue after SelvaFlux’s proposed share. Actual revenue would depend on an approved method, site measurements, and the credit price.
Methane Revenue Could Improve Project Economics
If a registry approves a method and issues credits to a qualifying reforestation project, selling the credits could add annual revenue. In the spatial model, prospective methane revenue lowers each grid cell’s break-even credit price. Some grid cells then meet the model’s 12% required return.
Across the price scenarios tested, the model estimates that GWP100 methane revenue increases bankable land by 0.8 to 1.7 million hectares.
Host a pilot
No pilot is signed, and fieldwork depends on funding SelvaFlux is raising. SelvaFlux covers the field campaign budget. The host does not contribute to it.
What the host gets
- We assess the site’s methane potential.
- We report the results and their uncertainty.
- We estimate the site’s uptake for a later crediting assessment.
- The host receives priority for assessment under an applicable approved methane method.
What the host provides
- The host names a site and defines its boundary.
- The host provides access during an agreed field window.
- The host shares existing species and inventory records.
- The host commits staff time during the campaign.
- The host decides whether SelvaFlux may name the project publicly.
Pilot measurements do not create credits. Any future credit requires an approved method, an eligible host project, measured uptake above the applicable baseline, and independent verification. SelvaFlux plans for issuance in 2030 or later.
For crediting, SelvaFlux’s proposed share would be paid after the registry issues credits.
We estimate forest methane uptake across a whole jurisdiction by combining satellite mapping with field measurements. The estimate can add forest methane uptake to national and subnational greenhouse-gas accounts.
For governments and jurisdictionsSelvaFlux measures methane uptake. Other forest benefits remain outside the credit.
Advisor
Jane Zelikova Advises SelvaFlux
Executive Director, Sustainability Research Initiative, University of Colorado Boulder
Jane is a climate scientist whose published work includes carbon cycling in tropical forest soils. Her work also covers carbon measurement and the scientific review of carbon-removal projects.