Invest in European carbon credits

Carbon removal certificates describe one tonne of CO₂ that has been removed from the atmosphere. In our projects, this is achieved, for example, through the growth of newly planted trees.

Carbon avoidance credits describe a ton of CO₂ which has been avoided from being released into the atmosphere. This is achieved through our projects, as fewer trees die in mixed forests as a result of climate change.

Due to the focus on the introduction of new trees and tree species, Pina Earth's projects consist mainly of carbon removal certificates and only to a small extent of carbon avoidance certificates.

Pina Earth's forest adaptation projects are certified by TÜV NORD CERT GmbH according to the ISO 14064-2 standard. TÜV NORD CERT is accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to validate and verify climate protection projects.

We also offer projects that are certified according to the recognized "Wald-Klimastandard" - the first German standard to certify forest ecosystem services.

There are three major categories for nature-based solutions: Forest protection, afforestation and improved forest management. Pina Earth’s projects fall into the category of improved forest management.

Forest protection is hardly applicable to Europe, as there is not much illegal deforestation taking place.

Afforestation plays an important role in climate change. However, Europe has a high population density and not many areas are available for impactful afforestation.

Meanwhile, improved forest management is highly important as 25% of the total forest (3 million hectares) need to be adapted in Germany alone. Turning endangered monocultures into climate-resilient, biodiverse forests is therefore an urgent task that Pina Earth focuses on and welcomes clients to join.

The additionality criterion means that a project would not have been developed without the additional revenues from the carbon market. Pina Earth carefully examines whether a project is additional and only develops projects where additionality is given. In more details, there are three types of additionality which Pina Earth evaluates:

Legal additionality: At the start of Pina Earth’s projects, the climate project and
planned measures are not prescribed by laws, ordinances, or regulations. Further, the scientifically required adaptation rate of 95,000 ha/year by 2050 will not be achieved via legal frameworks alone.

Financial additionality: The costs of implementing projects on the project areas during the crediting period exceed the income generated by the project implementation.

Carbon additionality: The project generates a real and measurable climate impact, which is above the performance level of standard practice (baseline or “business-as-usual”).

All of our projects are currently located in Germany, including in Thuringia, Brandenburg, Bavaria, Baden Württemberg, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

The project portfolio is constantly being expanded in order to convert forests where the need is greatest. An overview of the current project portfolio can be found on our forest dashboard.

All project areas are open to the public. We can make you an individual offer for guided project visits.

The additional CO₂ sequestration potential is quantified in three steps using Pina Earth's technology-based approach:
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1. A digital twin of the forest is created using the forest data from the project area.

2. The planned forest conversion measures are implemented over 30 years in our forest growth simulation and compared with a reference scenario in which no forest conversion takes place.

3. An external auditor, such as TÜV Nord, visits the project area and checks the project report. After successful validation and certification, the emission certificates are issued.

Pina Earth uses proven technology to precisely quantify the additional CO₂ reduction resulting from forest conversion. Current scientific models, local site data and forest inventories are incorporated. Each calculation is checked and audited by independent third parties as part of the project certification process to ensure the highest quality and reliability. In addition, our projects follow recognized standards that set clear requirements for the methods and validation.

You can find more information about our concept here.

Prices are based on the specific project, the available volume of certificates, the geographical location, current supply and demand conditions and the standard used. The type of certificates - i.e. whether they are CO₂ removals or avoidances - also plays a role. Our aim is to set prices that are fair, in line with the market and transparent. The needs of our forests and forest owners are at the forefront of this. As you purchase CO2 certificates directly from the project developer with Pina Earth, the majority of the money goes directly into the forest.

Pina Earth develops certified climate protection projects to make forests in Germany climate-resilient. In view of the increasing damage caused by climate change - in Germany alone, 2 million hectares are already severely damaged - monocultures need to be converted into mixed forests. To help finance this, Pina Earth quantifies the additional CO2 reduction achieved by forest conversion measures and sells this in the form of high-quality CO2 certificates to companies that can thus make a regional contribution to climate protection. The revenue from the sale goes directly to the forest owners to finance their conversion measures.

Pina Earth was founded by Dr. Gesa Biermann and Florian Fincke as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich. Dr. Gesa Biermann holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences from LMU Munich and a Master's degree in Sustainable Resource Management from TU Munich. Florian Fincke is a full-stack software developer and has already worked in start-ups for 10 years. In addition to the founders, the Pina Earth team combines interdisciplinary expertise in forest science, carbon markets, data science and management.

Our team will advise you in detail on the possibilities of a partnership and work with you to select a suitable project. Arrange a initial meeting to find out about your needs. After signing the contract, you will receive the retirement certificate for your carbon credits and our comprehensive communication package. We provide you with holistic support on your sustainability journey - from the choice of project to the effective communication of your climate contribution. Contact our experts to get started right away.

Companies can communicate publicly their climate contribution. Depending on the project and upon consultation with Pina Earth, a Net-Zero claim may also be possible. For detailled information, please see page 4 of this document from the waldklima standard.

Pina Earth provides comprehensive communication material for all projects to ensure that the climate contribution is communicated safely and effectively. This includes high-resolution photos, videos and descriptions of the projects, claim advice with text modules, social media post templates, communication examples and much more.

We also offer website integrations and individual dashboards for your company. Please contact us for a quote.