High-integrity forest carbon projects aren't just better for the climate—they're better for American forest landowners. We're seeking independent rating partners to help build carbon markets where quality drives demand, fair prices, and real climate impact.
View the rfpToday, we're excited to announce a Request for Proposals for independent carbon credit rating and integrity advisory service, a crucial step in developing our Avoided Conversion carbon projects under the TREE program.
There's a persistent myth in carbon markets that maximizing integrity somehow comes at the expense of landowners. The reality is exactly the opposite.
High-integrity forest carbon projects aren't just better for the climate, they're better for American forest landowners. Here's why:
Integrity drives demand. Quality-focused buyers actively seek credits they can trust, and they're willing to pay premium prices for projects with strong ratings and transparent methodologies. When our projects achieve the highest integrity standards, we unlock access to buyers who value quality over cheap offsets.
Fair prices require market confidence. Forest landowners deserve fair compensation for protecting their land from development. But fair prices only exist when buyers have confidence in what they're purchasing. By investing in independent third-party ratings and rigorous methodology design, we're building the market trust that translates directly into sustainable revenue for participating landowners.
Projects that deliver on their promises protect everyone. When carbon projects are built right from the start - with robust additionality, strong permanence mechanisms, and transparent monitoring - they actually deliver the climate benefits they claim. This protects landowners from reversal risk, ensures their conservation efforts have real impact and returns, and improves the integrity of voluntary carbon markets for the long term.
Through this RFP, we're seeking partners who can help us achieve both excellence and accessibility: developing methodologies and projects that meet the highest market standards while remaining economically feasible for family forest owners.
We believe the future of forest conservation depends on building carbon markets that work for everyone: landowners who need fair compensation, buyers who demand credible climate impact, and communities who depend on healthy, protected forests.
Read the full RFP here (Proposals due November 21, 2025)
Upstream Carbon is working under a USDA Forest Service Cooperative Agreement to help family forest landowners protect their land while supporting climate solutions. Learn more about our work at upstreamcarbon.com.
