Carbon Forestry and Agriculture: Wildlife Welfare Impacts

Carbon offset projects involving forestry and agriculture can have significant and often overlooked impacts on wildlife welfare, for better or worse depending on how projects are designed and managed.

Key Facts

Millions of hectares globally are enrolled in carbon forestry schemes, with wildlife impacts varying enormously by project design
Monoculture tree plantations planted for carbon credits often support far fewer species than the habitats they replace
Rewilding and natural regeneration carbon projects tend to deliver substantially better wildlife outcomes than plantation schemes
Afforestation on open grasslands — even when framed as carbon forestry — can harm specialist grassland species including ground-nesting birds
Carbon-linked agricultural projects can incentivise reduced pesticide use and hedgerow restoration, benefiting farmland wildlife
Some carbon projects inadvertently displace smallholders whose land management historically supported biodiversity
The Gold Standard and Verified Carbon Standard now incorporate biodiversity co-benefit assessments into certification

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife welfare in carbon forestry and agriculture projects is complex. Animals in monoculture plantations may face habitat loss compared to what existed before, while animals in well-designed natural regeneration projects may experience significantly improved conditions — more food, shelter, and social opportunity. Displacement effects can concentrate wildlife in remaining habitat patches, increasing stress, disease transmission, and competition. Fire management practices used in some carbon-credited savanna projects can improve habitat for some species while harming others. Individual animal welfare — not just biodiversity metrics — deserves explicit consideration in project design and certification standards.

What You Can Do

When buying carbon offsets, prioritise projects certified under standards that include biodiversity co-benefits
Support organisations advocating for wildlife welfare criteria in carbon project certification
Favour carbon projects based on natural regeneration over monoculture plantation
Advocate for open grasslands and other non-forest habitats to receive carbon credit recognition to prevent misguided afforestation
Ask carbon brokers and offset retailers about the wildlife impact assessments for their projects
Support research into long-term wildlife welfare outcomes in carbon forestry landscapes