Calculator: what is your forest worth in carbon credits?

Estimate in seconds how much CO₂ your forest stores and what portion could be monetizable in the carbon market. Honest and with no promises: we show you two very different numbers and why they matter.

1 · Stored carbon (natural heritage)
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This is the CO₂ your forest already holds. A physical value measured by satellite, it is not money nor sellable credits.
2 · Indicative potential / year (if eligible)
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Illustrative range of the credit that could be generated each year, after the permanence buffer and at market price. Conditional on additionality and certification.
How to read these two numbers. The carbon your forest already holds is your natural heritage. Sellable credits, by contrast, come from the new carbon it captures each year (or from the deforestation you avoid), never from the full stock. That is why multiplying the stored carbon by the price would be misleading, and we do not do it.

How it is calculated

The stored carbon uses BioAurea's satellite averages by bioregion (33,356 veredas, 2005–2026): for example, an Amazon hectare holds ~697 t CO₂eq and an Orinoquia one ~507 t CO₂eq. The annual potential starts from typical capture rates of tropical forest (IPCC reference): ~1–3 t CO₂eq/ha/year in standing forest and ~5–15 in restoration; the permanence buffer (15–20%) is discounted and a reference price from the voluntary market of 8–12 USD/tCO₂ is applied. The result is a range, not an exact figure.

Examples by bioregion (per hectare)

BioregionStored carbon (t CO₂eq/ha)Indicative conservation potential (USD/ha/year)
Amazon697~7–30
Pacific665~7–30
Andes593~7–30
Caribbean523~7–30
Orinoquia507~7–30
National average589~7–30

Note: stored carbon changes by region (denser forests hold more), but the annual potential per hectare is similar across regions because it depends on the capture rate, not the stock. In restoration the potential rises to ~33–148 USD/ha/year in the first decades.

See the real carbon of your vereda in the Observatory →
Important notice. Indicative estimate, not an offer nor a financial valuation. The "stored carbon" is a satellite measurement of your natural heritage. The "credit potential" is an illustrative range based on typical tropical forest sequestration rates (IPCC) and reference prices from the voluntary market; it does NOT represent issued credits nor guaranteed income. The amount of credits actually sellable depends on additionality, baseline, permanence (buffer 15–20%), leakage and certification costs under standards such as Verra, Gold Standard or BanCO2, and can be considerably lower, even zero, if the project is not additional. Carbon prices are volatile. Consult a certified project developer before making decisions. BioAurea provides the measurement and the evidence, not the issuance or sale of credits.

Frequently asked questions

Is the carbon my forest stores what I can sell?

No. Stored carbon is your heritage (a physical value). Credits come from the new carbon captured each year or from avoided deforestation, and only if the project is additional, permanent and certified.

How much CO₂ does a hectare store in Colombia?

On average ~589 t CO₂eq/ha; the Amazon reaches ~697 and the Orinoquia ~507, according to BioAurea's satellite data.

How much could I earn per year?

As an illustrative reference, ~7–30 USD/ha/year in standing forest (after buffer and at 8–12 USD/tCO₂), if the project is eligible. It is not guaranteed income.

Is this a valuation or appraisal?

No. It is educational and indicative. Real eligibility requires a technical assessment of additionality, permanence and baseline.

Keep reading: carbon markets in Colombia · how much carbon forests store · EUDR certificate.