Isometric has certified an update to the Reforestation Protocol. Version 1.1 expands project eligibility to include distributed projects and those that leverage techniques that improve the carbon storage capacity of existing forests, and introduces industry-first water resource protections and a novel time-for-space substitution (TFSS) approach to dynamic baselining.
Certification follows a comprehensive 30-day public consultation that included feedback from buyers, suppliers, and leading academics with expertise in forest restoration, ecology, and geospatial science. Full details on the evolution of the protocol, and how Isometric addressed feedback from the public consultation, are available in the protocol changelog and public consultation summary.
Version 1.1 expands protocol eligibility to include projects that group multiple small landholders into distributed projects, as well as those that enhance the carbon storage capacity of degraded forests through techniques such as removing invasive vines or closing forest edges. This expansion recognizes the critical role that restoration activities beyond traditional reforestation can play in delivering meaningful climate impact.
Lisett Luik, Co-founder and COO of Arbonics, said:
“Isometric’s updated Reforestation Protocol marks an important step forward for the pathway, unlocking certification for projects that help individual landowners fight climate change. Critically for Arbonics, this new version supports distributed reforestation projects by leveraging cutting-edge remote sensing technology and LiDAR.”
The update also introduces an innovative TFSS approach to dynamic baselining. This allows projects in unique areas—such as reclaimed mine land—to combine historical and current data when datasets are limited. This expands the pool of valid comparisons used to establish a dynamic baseline while maintaining scientific rigour and ensuring that carbon removal is conservatively quantified.
Rahul Misra, Vice President of Carbon Product at Living Carbon, said: “Isometric's time-for-space substitution mechanism accounts for ecological succession dynamics in the same way baselines account for the physical characteristics of project sites. This enhancement enables project developers like Living Carbon to account for our impact on complex project sites with greater accuracy and rigor.”
Version 1.1 also introduces industry-first water resource protections. Projects in areas facing elevated water risk—such as water stress or drought—must now assess potential impacts on local water supplies and implement mitigation strategies. These can include selecting lower water-intensity species, staggering planting schedules, reducing management intensity, or establishing monitoring plans. This ensures reforestation projects enhance rather than strain local water resources.
This protocol update 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 scientific experts and practitioners.
