B.C.’s Forest Carbon Math Isn’t Adding Up—And That’s a Problem for Reforestation

British Columbia’s forests are supposed to be massive carbon sponges, but no one seems to know exactly how muchcarbon they’re storing (or worse, releasing). A new audit from B.C.’s auditor general just called out the Forests Ministry for some seriously vague carbon accounting—turns out, there’s no standardized methodology for measuring the climate benefits of reforestation and forest investment projects. Even worse? The government is using these fuzzy numbers to make big policy decisions and set investment targets.

While B.C.’s forest landscape planning program got a gold star for transparency, everything else got a “please show your work” note from the auditor. The ministry says it’ll finalize its carbon math by spring 2026, but meanwhile, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil are already making major investment decisions based on verified forest carbon data. If B.C. wants to be a player in carbon markets, it might need to start keeping better score.

If B.C. is spending money on reforestation, shouldn’t the public know exactly how much carbon is being stored?

👉👉 Read more in CBC

This Week in Forest Finance: Who’s Funding Reforestation?

Big money is flowing into forests, with Hawai‘i, Brazil, Colombia, and corporate investors all doubling down on reforestation. Hawai‘i’s Carbon Smart Land Program is offering $25,000–$100,000 grants to landowners—raising questions about how much transparency should be required when public money funds private land restoration. Brazil’s Pará State is auctioning off 10,000 hectares for reforestation, a potential 11 million trees, but should companies restoring public land have to share detailed data on species, survival rates, and carbon capture? Meanwhile, Colombia’s first biodiversity bonds have raised $70 million for conservation, but how many trees does that actually plant? And Just Climate, backed by Microsoft & CalSTRS, secured $175 million for nature-based climate solutions—begging the question: Should verification data on carbon sequestration and biodiversity impact be openly available?

Reforestation is finally attracting serious investment—but what will it take to scale these efforts even further? More private capital? Stronger policies? A total rethink of how forests fit into the economy?

👉👉 Read our weekly column in Ground Truth

Telling the Right Forest Story: New EU Toolkit Links Storytelling to Reforestation

Turns out, saving forests isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about telling the right stories. The EU-funded SUPERB project has launched a free toolkit called Forest Storytelling and Engagement for Change, designed to help forest practitioners, community groups, and policymakers use storytelling to drive forest restoration and biodiversity conservation across Europe.

Developed by the European Forest Institute, King’s College London, and Prospex Institute, the toolkit offers step-by-step guides and practical examples to help make conservation efforts more inclusive, accessible, and rooted in local communities. The big idea? People protect what they feel connected to—and compelling stories are a powerful way to build that connection.

What actually makes a conservation story impactful? Do we need more selfies with trees, dramatic wildlife photos, or should real data—like geospatial mapping and survival rates—be front and center?

👉👉 Read more from the UN Environment Program

New SBTi Rules Could Supercharge Reforestation—But Will They Deliver?

After months of delays, SBTi’s draft for Net Zero Standard V2 is finally out—all 132 pages of it. Why does this matter? Because a shift in SBTi rules has been one of the most requested changes to boost reforestation through the carbon market—and this draft might actually deliver. The new guidelines push companies to fund ecosystem restoration to offset their residual emissions, meaning reforestation projects could become a must-have, not just a nice-to-have in corporate climate strategies.

But it’s not just about planting trees—SBTi is demanding higher-quality projects, prioritizing biodiversity, social benefits, and long-term carbon storage. Companies will also have to quantify their contributions with better transparency and monitoring, which could drive satellite, drone, and AI adoption for tracking carbon sequestration. Public feedback is open until June 1st, but if these trends hold, expect a major surge in reforestation projects soon.

What’s the most important factor for ensuring reforestation projects are truly impactful? Is it stricter monitoring with satellites and AI, prioritizing biodiversity, or something else entirely?

👉👉 Read more from Trellis

Sawtooth National Forest Plans Reforestation for 21,700 Acres of Burned Land

After years of wildfires, insect outbreaks, and floods, Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest is gearing up for a major reforestation push. Since 2000, wildfires alone have scorched 488,000 acres of the forest, and researchers have pinpointed 21,700 acres in urgent need of reseeding and seedling planting—with even more priority areas likely to be added as post-fire assessments continue. The plan, filed under the REPLANT Act, will rely on hand crews to reintroduce native trees using cones and seeds collected from the forest. While the Forest Service is seeking a NEPA exclusion to streamline approvals, the public can still weigh in before March 27.

Some argue that forests should always be left to regenerate naturally—but clearly, that’s not the approach being taken here. When does intervention make sense, and when should we let nature do the work?

👉👉 Read more in Idaho Mountain Express