Isometric will be the registry for a landmark, multi-year reforestation offtake agreement, in which Microsoft will purchase over 1.4 million tonnes of reforestation-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from Living Carbon. The credits will be generated from Living Carbon’s reforestation projects in Appalachia, which restore forest cover on degraded land—that was primarily used for coal mining.
This represents one of the largest offtakes for reforestation CDR in the US to date* and signals the increasing demand for high verification standards in reforestation. All carbon credits delivered to Microsoft under this agreement will be verified and issued by Isometric according to the Reforestation Protocol.
Isometric’s entrance into reforestation is a key step in bringing scientific rigor and tech-enabled transparency to the industry. For some time, our Fortune 100 customers have told us that they want Isometric monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) for their reforestation purchases. The Isometric approach introduces tech-first quantification, dynamic baselines and advanced approaches to leakage and lifecycle assessments. These tools make the verification process faster, cheaper and more accurate, giving buyers, such as Microsoft, innovative solutions to the historical challenges of verifying reforestation projects.
Isometric also sought the input of key buyers and other market participants to develop this approach. This should give prospective buyers confidence in Isometric reforestation credits. Now, they can start their CDR purchasing journey and build their portfolios with a registry that’s fast, easy to work with and at the cutting edge of science and technology.
Forests remove 7.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. However, when forests decline in health—due to factors such as deforestation, diminished soil health or wildfires—they are less able to remove and store carbon dioxide. Reforestation—done by replanting native trees—can significantly enhance a forest’s ability to remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Based in California, Living Carbon specializes in reforesting abandoned mining sites, degraded farmland and unproductive soils across the US. Isometric supported Living Carbon with their application to the Symbiosis Coalition’s request for proposals (RFP).
Just months after certifying the Reforestation Protocol, Isometric is verifying one of the largest offtakes in this space. Living Carbon is setting a precedent in the market for rigorous, transparent carbon removal in reforestation, aligned with Microsoft’s Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal.
“Our projects focus on restoring former minelands—areas often overlooked in traditional nature-based solutions—with robust measurement and verification built in from day one,” said Rahul Misra, VP Carbon Product, at Living Carbon. “Isometric’s rigorous, science-based approach ensures transparency and accountability at scale, and we’re proud to work with them and Microsoft to scale reforestation-based carbon removal.”
In just a few months, we’ve gone from drafting our first reforestation protocol to working with the largest buyers—and most innovative suppliers—in reforestation. It’s a testament to the speed of the Isometric team and the rigor of our approach. We look forward to announcing many more partners as this trend continues.
Reforestation buyers or suppliers interested in working with Isometric should get in touch.
* Source: publicly announced U.S.-based reforestation carbon dioxide removal projects (not including ARR or other forest management methods). This analysis found the following order regarding the size of offtake agreements:
1. 2.7 million tonnes to be removed by Chestnut Carbon
2. 1.4 million tonnes to be removed by Living Carbon (this agreement)
