Isometric has released a draft protocol for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) via Agroforestry for public consultation. This draft protocol outlines requirements and procedures for projects that remove carbon by planting or increasing forest cover integrated within agricultural landscapes.
As a carbon removal pathway, Agroforestry has the potential to remove up to 310 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year and encompasses a range of techniques that bring trees into farming systems.
Silvopasture integrates trees into grazing land, giving livestock shade and forage while storing carbon. Alley cropping grows crops between rows of trees or shrubs, protecting plants and improving soil health. Orchards combine fruit or nut production with other farming activities. Windbreaks use rows of trees to protect soils, crops, and animals from strong winds. Riparian buffers establish trees and shrubs along rivers and streams to reduce erosion, filter water, and capture carbon.
Beyond carbon removal, Agroforestry also provides important additional benefits, including increasing local climate resilience, strengthening food security, enhancing soil and water conservation, and creating new income streams for local communities.
The Agroforestry Protocol takes a scientifically rigorous approach to monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). It combines advanced remote sensing technologies—including satellite imagery and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)—with detailed field measurements to ensure accurate carbon accounting. Projects must also use dynamic baselines by comparing project sites with similar reference areas in the same region, accounting for factors such as land use history, soil conditions, and local climate.
To maintain ecological integrity and maximize environmental benefits, the protocol requires the use of native and adapted species that support biodiversity and ecosystem health.
This protocol was developed in line with the Isometric Standard, through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network of more than 300 academic experts and practitioners.
Comments are welcome from interested buyers, suppliers, and scientists during the 30-day public consultation period ending on October 30.
