Project Description and Activities
In the climate project 'Altmark', over 140 hectares of pine- and larch-dominated forest in Saxony-Anhalt are being converted into a near-natural, biodiverse mixed forest. By doing so, the project avoids and removes over 18,000 tons of CO₂ emission over 30 years from the atmosphere, preparing the forest for future climatic conditions.
Project activities such as the promotion of natural regeneration, the introduction of new species such as English oak, Douglas fir, maple and mountain elm, mixture regulation and adapted wildlife management make the forest more resistant to the consequences of climate change such as storms, drought and beetle infestation.
Project activities
Impressions of the project
Why we need forest adaptation
Forest fires
Wind plays a decisive role in the development of forest fires. In row-planted monocultures, the wind can easily push the fire through the stand, which leads to a faster spread of forest fires.
Storms
Forest areas with many tall and thin trees are more susceptible to storm damage (so-called windthrow). If, in addition, most of the trees in a section of forest are the same height, storms can lead to the loss of entire forest sections.
Impact of the project
Species distribution at project start
Number of main tree species
Biodiversity Index
Contribution to the UN SDGs
The Project Team
Lennard Sieck
“Together, we were able to define the project activities in such a way that they have the greatest impact on making the forest climate-friendly.”
Lennard Sieck
Forester in the project Altmark
Ronja Wolf
from Pina Earth is overseeing the project from the quantification and certification side. This includes, for example, the simulation of the development of the forest over the next 30 years. Find out more here.
Project updates
3/5/2026
A Boost for Natural Regeneration
In August 2025, targeted soil preparation was carried out on approximately 17 hectares to create optimal germination conditions for natural regeneration. In November 2025, wildlife management practices were adjusted, and in February 2026, the stand was further thinned to allow more light to reach the forest floor and provide the new generation of trees with more space to grow.
8/18/2025
Room for New Growth & Site Visit
Between June and July 2025, timber was harvested, making room for the new mixed-species trees to grow. In August, the Pina Earth team visited the project site to assess the progress of the forest conversion. During the visit, it became clear just how well the young red oaks and sweet chestnuts grown from seed have already developed.
12/2/2024
Seeding and Fence Construction
In November 2024, approximately 70 kilograms of red oak and sweet chestnut seeds harvested on-site were planted. A protective fence was also erected to shield the young trees from wildlife browsing.
4/8/2024
Successful Third-Party Certification
Following a site visit in September 2023, the project was successfully validated and certified by TÜV Nord Cert in accordance with ISO 14064-2, based on the Project Design Document (PDD). The Validation Report has been issued, and the carbon credits have been issued and are now available.
11/9/2023
Site visit by auditor
The site visit is part of the certification process at the beginning of the GHG project. Several stands were visited to verify the initial situation in the project.
2/14/2023
Start of the project
The conversion of the areas was initiated in February 2023. The planned measures will be implemented over the next 30 years.
10/19/2024
Establishment of a new forest stand
The establishment of the future mixed forest is currently in progress. On selected sub-areas, fencing has been installed to protect against browsing by wildlife. Following this, seeds were sown, including red oak and sweet chestnut. Tree species such as pine, oak, beech, and birch are expected to naturally regenerate on the prepared soil.
To support germination, targeted soil disturbance was carried out by aerial methods. This helps to protect the seeds from wind displacement and drying out, ensuring optimal conditions for successful establishment and growth.
