Why Forest Credits

1. Protection of forests and their biodiversity

Our projects are private reserves and without our active protection, these areas would be vulnerable to local threats, such as plantations, mining, or road building.

2. Expansion of areas protected from deforestation or degradation

We work with local landowners to prevent encroachment onto their forested lands, or making additional land purchases where no realistic alternative exists.

3. Promotion of sustainable livelihoods

Our projects are based on strong partnerships with local organisations, communities and landowners, which are key to their ongoing success and ensure that your offsets have a lasting environmental legacy.

We’d love you to offset your carbon emissions using Forest Credits, but we’d also like to urge you to reduce avoidable carbon emissions.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust for useful advice on cutting energy use. Or we have also compiled a few suggestions below. They are not comprehensive, but might generate ideas!

At work:

• Look at your annual energy use to see where peaks occur - it may surprise you. If you have a blip in August from desk fans, could you open windows instead?
• Can you reduce heat loss by draft stripping doors and windows, increasing insulation, or installing thermal blinds?
• If you leave entrance doors open so your premises are welcoming, why not use a friendly sign as an alternative in winter?
• Turn off radiators before opening windows.
• Set your heating to 19°C and ask staff to wear an extra layer: shirts in February are a luxury!
• Adopt a non-essential equipment off policy for nights and weekends.
• Install PIRs (presence sensors) in little used rooms.
• The office might be gloomy early in the morning, but do you need the lights on all day?
• Do staff close blinds for privacy, then switch on the lights? Venetian blinds may be the answer.
• Set a travel policy. To encourage use of public transport, some organisations put limits on mileage claims.
• Consider video conferencing instead of travelling long distances to meetings - you may only need the first meeting face to face. And double up on meetings when travelling abroad.

At home:

• Is that car trip always necessary? Try taking a bus, walk, cycle, or share your journey.
• When replacing your car, choose a fuel-efficient secondhand one.
• Can you reduce flights by holidaying in the UK? Or go to Europe rather than long haul? You won’t get jetlag, and will waste less time travelling.
• Turn down your thermostat and wear an extra layer and slippers.
• Reduce heat loss in your house by installing insulation, draft stripping doors and windows, and lagging pipework.
• If replacing your heating system, buy an energy efficient one and put thermostatic values on all radiators.
• Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
• When they die, replace white goods with A+ or better and switch bulbs to energy-saving equivalents.
• Use a multi-layer steamer for cooking, so you only use one ring for all your vegetables.
• When making a casserole in the oven, can you cook something else at the same time? A cake, or tomorrow’s supper?