Building new forest ecosystems and their impact on the climate
Lumin /Eucapine Uruguay Forest Plantations on degraded Grasslands under extensive grazing
The Lumin afforestation project (formerly Weyerhaeuser – Uruguay) aims to convert degraded grassland areas in Uruguay into productive forest land over the long term.
The establishment of new forest areas enables the sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ and its long-term storage in biomass. This creates verifiable emission reductions while restoring an active climate function to previously underutilized land. The project integrates afforestation with existing land uses and long-term management plans, combining carbon sequestration with sustainable land use and measurable climate impact.
Technical project data – VCS960
Key project facts at a glance.
| Parameter | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project location | Uruguay; eastern region, Departments of Cerro Largo and Treinta y Tres | Monitoring Report (MR), Section 2.1.7, pp. 10–14 |
| Project type | Afforestation and Reforestation (ARR) project within the AFOLU sector | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.2, pp. 9–10 |
| Project standard | Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) | Monitoring Report, title page, p. 1 |
| Additional standard | Climate, Community & Biodiversity Standard (CCB) | CCB Validation Report, Summary, pp. 1–2 |
| Project developer | LUMIN / Eucapine S.R.L. | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.3, pp. 9–10 |
| Project area | Afforestation on degraded grassland areas (currently approx. 17,315 ha) | Monitoring Report, Section 2.2.4, pp. 16–17 |
| Technology / approach | Afforestation of degraded land using commercial forestry species; sustainable forest management | Monitoring Report, Sections 3.2 & 3.2.4, pp. 64–71 |
| Baseline scenario | Continued extensive grazing with low carbon sequestration | Monitoring Report, Section 3.2.1, pp. 64–65 |
| Methodology | AR-ACM0001 – Afforestation and Reforestation of Degraded Land (Version 5.2.0) | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.8, pp. 14–15 |
| Project start | 22 February 2006 | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.5, p. 10 |
| Crediting period | 60 years: 22 Feb 2006 – 22 Feb 2066 | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.6, p. 10 |
| Project status | Registered and verified VCS project | Verification Report, Conclusion, pp. 22–23 |
| Annual emission reductions | CO₂ sequestration through biomass growth; reported per monitoring year | Monitoring Report, Section 3.2.4, pp. 71–72 |
| Main impact mechanism | Removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere and storage in biomass and soil | Monitoring Report, Sections 3.2 & SOC Tool, pp. 64–68 |
| Monitoring & verification | Regular field inventories and independent third-party verification | Monitoring Report, Sections 2.2 & 3.1, pp. 16–17, 64–65 |
| Additionality | Economic feasibility enabled through revenues from the carbon market | PDD / Monitoring Report, Additionality Tool, pp. 14–15 |
| Permanence & risk management | Safeguarding of climate impact via the VCS AFOLU buffer account (10%) | Non-Permanence Risk Report, Sections 4.1–4.2, pp. 14–15 |
| Carbon Credit Rating | No external carbon credit rating published | Verra Registry & project documentation |
| Carbon Credit Rating Type | No project-specific external rating (e.g. BeZero, Sylvera) | – |
| Article 6 Authorization (Paris Agreement) | No authorization under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement | Verra Registry |
| CCP Status (ICVCM) | No CCP classification published | ICVCM |
| Handling of double-counting risks | Clear allocation of VCUs within the Verra Registry | VCS Rules & Verification Report, pp. 22–23 |
| Risk management (AFOLU) | Systematic assessment of non-permanence risks (including fire, pests, extreme weather events, land-use change). Long-term climate impact safeguarded through the VCS AFOLU buffer account with a 10% contribution of generated credits. | VCS Non-Permanence Risk Report, Sections 4.1–4.2, pp. 14–15 |
| Monitoring approach | Regular field inventories and biomass measurements covering above- and below-ground biomass and soil carbon. Combination of field data and model-based calculations in line with VCS requirements; independent verification of monitoring results. | Monitoring Report, Sections 3.1–3.2 & 3.2.4, pp. 64–72 |
| Project longevity / long-term perspective | Long-term project duration aligned with VCS requirements | VCS Rules & Verification Report, pp. 22–23; Non-Permanence Risk Report, Project Longevity, pp. 8–9 |
| Contribution to national climate strategy | Contribution to the AFOLU sector without national accounting under Article 6 | Monitoring Report, Section 2.1.10, p. 15 |
What the project can contribute
Here we summarize what the project is designed to achieve in practice and which tangible changes it makes possible.
- 1
Establish new forest areas
The Lumin project gradually converts degraded grassland areas into productive forest land. New forests are created on previously underutilized land, taking on an active ecological and climate function over the long term.
- 2
Store carbon over the long term
Through the build-up of biomass, CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere and the carbon is stored in wood, roots, and soil. The climate impact results from measurable carbon sequestration over the lifetime of the project.
- 3
Use land sustainably
Afforestation is carried out within long-term management concepts that combine economic use with stable carbon storage. This creates new land-use options without requiring additional land.
- 4
Strengthen ecological functions
New forest areas improve soil structure, water regulation, and local biodiversity. At the same time, they increase the resilience of the land to climate-related extreme events.
- 5
Safeguard long-term climate impact
The long-term storage of sequestered carbon is ensured through monitoring, independent verification, and AFOLU-specific risk management, including protection through the VCS buffer account.
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Global climate relevance
Absorbing carbon, building long-term sinks
The Lumin project establishes new forest areas on degraded grassland. As trees grow, CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere and the carbon is stored over the long term in biomass and soil. This creates a measurable climate impact through active carbon sequestration.
Climate mitigation with a long-term perspective
Forests function as carbon sinks over decades. The establishment of new forest ecosystems helps to permanently remove atmospheric carbon and limit greenhouse gas concentrations. The resulting climate impact extends beyond the project region and supports long-term global climate goals.
Additional carbon sinks instead of lost potential
Without afforestation, the project areas would continue to sequester only small amounts of carbon. The project deliberately changes this trajectory: by building up biomass, additional carbon sinks are created that would not exist without the project activities.
Enabled by climate finance
Afforestation and the long-term management of the land are made possible through revenues from the voluntary carbon market. This financing covers planting, maintenance, monitoring, and risk management. Without this support, the establishment of new forest areas at this scale would not be economically feasible.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – The relevant and the complementary contributions
In addition to active carbon sequestration, the Lumin project contributes to the development of new forest ecosystems, the strengthening of ecological functions, and the sustainable use of formerly degraded land. As such, the project supports several objectives of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs). The most significant contributions are made to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Further SDGs are supported in a complementary or indirect manner. Some SDGs are considered marginal contributions, providing supportive effects without being core elements of the project.
The Lumin project contributes to climate mitigation by establishing new forest areas on degraded grassland.
As trees grow, CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere and the carbon is stored over the long term in biomass and soil.
Contribution:
Active carbon sequestration through afforestation and long-term storage in biomass and soil.Afforestation leads to the creation of new forest ecosystems that provide ecological functions such as soil protection, water regulation, and habitat formation. The areas gain ecological structure and increased resilience to climatic influences.
Contribution:
Establishment and stabilization of terrestrial ecosystems on formerly degraded land.The project creates income opportunities through afforestation activities, monitoring, local project work, and alternative land-use options. This strengthens economic perspectives beyond deforestation.
Contribution:
Support for local employment and income generation.Sustainable land-use concepts and accompanying measures help reduce pressure on forest resources. The focus is on long-term conservation rather than short-term exploitation.
Contribution:
More resource-efficient use of forest land.The development of new forest areas positively influences local water cycles. Forests contribute to regulating runoff, infiltration, and soil erosion.
Contribution:
Indirect support of a more stable water balance through improved soil and vegetation structures.The establishment of stable forest areas supports livelihoods in rural regions. The impact is not urban-focused but contributes to regional stability.
Contribution:
Indirect support for resilient rural livelihoods without a direct focus on urban areas.The project contributes to the development of long-term forestry management structures and the establishment of sustainable land-use infrastructure.
Contribution:
Support for the creation of durable, sustainable land-use structures in rural areas.
How CO₂ savings are generated
Forests and soils store carbon. When they are protected, reforested or managed more sustainably, this carbon remains stored and does not enter the atmosphere as CO₂. These avoided emissions can be measured and form the basis for CO₂ certificates.
Land use and forestry projects change how an area develops over time. Without the project, forests would degrade or be cleared, or soils would store less carbon. With the project, more carbon remains stored — or additional carbon is captured, for example through newly planted trees.
Depending on the region, vegetation and soil type, there are established factors that indicate how much carbon a forest or soil can store on average.
For each project, the expected development of the area without the intervention (baseline) is compared with the carbon that is retained or additionally stored through the project activities. The difference represents the avoided or newly captured emissions. These values are verified, regularly updated — and form the basis for issuing CO₂ certificates.
Context and transparency
The Lumin afforestation project is registered under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and is subject to regular monitoring and independent third-party verification. The issued emission reductions are based on verified monitoring reports and recognized methodologies for quantifying additional carbon sequestration in biomass and soil.
The project exemplifies climate action in the land-use sector by linking forest protection with measurable climate impact. Its approach is transparently documented, technically verifiable and designed for long-term conservation.