Forest Urban Carbon Registry

What Forest Urban Carbon Registry does

City Forest Credits (also operating as the Urban Forest Carbon Registry) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 that operates the only U.S. carbon registry dedicated exclusively to urban forestry. The organization issues two core products: Carbon+ Credits, third-party verified voluntary carbon offsets representing one metric ton of CO2 sequestered by metropolitan tree planting or preservation projects and bundled with quantified co-benefits (rainfall interception, air quality, energy savings); and Impact Certification, a science-based assessment of tree-planting projects across social equity, human health, and environmental dimensions, presented with an Impact Scorecard mapped to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Underlying technology includes proprietary Carbon Protocols developed since 2015 by a scientist-led drafting group, a Carbon Project Registry and Impact Project Directory (database layer), and an ArcGIS-based interactive project map dashboard that surfaces active projects with available credits across the United States. The City Forest Credits Standard is endorsed by the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Accreditation (ICROA), and the organization received the Carbon Positive Awards 2025 from Green Cross UK.

The business model is asset-light and fee-based. CFC does not sell credits directly; project operators (regional nonprofits, conservation districts, municipal agencies such as American Forests, Trees Forever, TreeFolks, Pierce Conservation District, Treasure Valley Canopy Network, NeighborSpace, and Enrichmond Foundation) sell Carbon+ Credits to corporate and government buyers at $22–$45 per metric ton. CFC generates revenue from a nominal application fee and per-credit fee on registered carbon projects plus a small percentage on Impact Certification projects, which carry a suggested minimum investment of $10,000 and are funded directly by companies or foundations. The go-to-market is sales-led, targeting enterprise corporates (Microsoft, PayPal, Fishermen's Finest, Bassetti Architects), municipal/state government agencies (City of Austin), and national and family foundations.

The addressable market is the voluntary carbon market tilted toward local, co-benefited offsets and ESG-motivated tree-equity investments. Geographic reach is U.S.-only across at least 14 states with active project registrations. The organization has 1–10 employees, is philanthropically funded rather than venture-backed, and operates from a single Seattle headquarters (PO Box 20396, Seattle, WA 98102).

Name

Forest Urban Carbon Registry

Legal name

City Forest Credits (operating as Urban Forest Carbon Registry)

Website

https://cityforestcredits.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

City Forest Credits (Forest Urban Carbon Registry) is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the only U.S. carbon registry dedicated exclusively to urban forestry, issuing verified Carbon+ Credits and Impact Certification for metro tree-planting and preservation projects for corporate, government, and foundation buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voluntary Carbon Credit Registry Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature-Based Credits Trading (Forestry/REDD+, Soil Carbon, Blue Carbon) (EUAGAIAK), Project-Originated Carbon Credit Marketing & Offtake (Primary Market) (EUAGAIAC), Carbon Sequestration & Forest Carbon Credits (AFAMAMAA)

Keywords

• Urban carbon credits
• Voluntary carbon registry
• Urban forestry offsets
• Carbon project certification
• Impact certification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Carbon+ Credit Sales: Third-party verified carbon credits representing one metric ton of CO2 sequestered by urban forest projects. Credits sold by local project operators (nonprofits, local governments) at $22–45 per ton. CFC issues and maintains the credit registry and database.
2. Impact Certification Fees: CFC charges a small percentage of each impact project for certification services. Impact projects provide upfront funding to design and implement tree planting projects without requiring a long-term time commitment or producing carbon credits.
3. Carbon Project Application and Per-Credit Fees: Nominal application fee and per-credit fee charged to project operators registering carbon projects with CFC. For carbon projects, CFC advises and provides information to project operators for carbon offsetting purposes, including development of methods and processes to describe, quantify, and assess impacts of metropolitan tree planting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forest Urban Carbon Registry (doing business as City Forest Credits) operates a national nonprofit urban forest carbon registry that issues Carbon+ Credits—third-party verified credits representing one metric ton of CO2 sequestered by urban forestry projects—and provides Impact Certification, a science-based assessment of tree planting projects across human health, social equity, and environmental dimensions. Local nonprofit and government project operators register projects and sell the credits to corporate buyers and municipalities; CFC issues and maintains the credit registry, Carbon Protocols, and Impact Standards.

Product overview

Forest Urban Carbon Registry (City Forest Credits) is a national nonprofit carbon registry and certification organization offering two core products: Carbon+ Credits and Impact Certification. Carbon+ Credits provide third-party verified carbon offsets from urban forests, tracked through the Carbon Project Registry using standardized Carbon Protocols. Impact Certification provides science-based assessment of tree planting projects across human health, social equity, and environmental dimensions, with projects listed in the Impact Project Directory. The organization also provides an interactive map tool for exploring active projects. Both products serve metropolitan tree planting and preservation projects with quantified co-benefits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carbon+ Credits: Premium carbon credits representing one metric ton of CO2 sequestered by urban trees, including quantified co-benefits for rainfall interception, air quality improvements, and energy savings.
• Impact Certification

Products and services

• Carbon+ Credits Third-party verified carbon credits representing one metric ton of CO2 sequestered by urban forestry projects, each credit including quantified co-benefits in resource units and avoided costs for rainfall interception, air quality improvements, and energy savings. Sold by local project operators to corporate and government buyers at $22–$45 per ton.
• Impact Certification Science-based certification program for tree planting projects that assesses and demonstrates human health, social equity, and environmental impacts, with design elements mapped to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Funded by companies and foundations providing upfront capital to design and implement tree planting projects without requiring long-term time commitments or producing carbon credits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Urban trees remove 822,000 metric tons of air pollution every year across U.S. cities.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American ForestscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partner collaborating on multiple projects including Advancing Tree Equity in Providence (RI), Greening Thompson Ranch School (AZ), Trees 4 Us Pawtucket/Central Falls (RI), Tons of Trees Initiative in Newport (RI), Downtown Louisville Tree Canopy Improvement (KY), Nyack Tree Planting Project (NY), and Branching Out Dallas (TX). American Forests provides Tree Equity Score analysis and co-funding.
• Treasure Valley Canopy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject operator administering the Treasure Valley City Forest Credits Program in partnership with the City of Boise, ID. Operates the Treasure Valley Municipal Parks project planting approximately 504 trees across nine municipal parks.
• TreeFolkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner operating the Reforesting Austin project in partnership with the City of Austin, and the Travis County Floodplain Reforestation Program. Generated carbon credits to help Austin meet its carbon neutrality goal.
• Trees ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit with three-decade track record operating the Growing Futures youth employment program in Des Moines, IA, Reforesting Des Moines 2019, and Reforesting Des Moines 2021 projects. Combines storm recovery, workforce development, and community tree planting.
• NeighborSpacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago nonprofit operating the Calumet River Garden Gateway project in partnership with Chicago Region Trees Initiative, City of Chicago, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Transforming vacant land into community nature gardens.
• Enrichmond FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit operating the Evergreen and East End Preservation project protecting two historic African American cemeteries in Richmond, VA. The 65-acre oak-hickory forest preservation generates carbon credits to fund long-term maintenance.
• Pierce Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatural resource agency operating reforestation programs in Pierce County, WA since over 70 years. Focus on creating barrier-free watersheds to sustain wild salmon by 2040 through riparian reforestation. Multiple project registrations including 2020 and 2022 programs.
• Groundwork Rhode IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner operating the Trees 4 Us project in Pawtucket and Central Falls, RI in partnership with American Forests and multiple foundations. Engaged residents in English, Spanish, and Portuguese for tree planting in historically redlined neighborhoods.
• Mountains to Sound Greenway TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust partnering with the City of Shoreline, WA to restore Ballinger Open Space, removing invasive plants and planting 2,000 native trees. Awarded the 2019 Spotlight Award for Environmental Stewardship by the Washington Recreation and Park Association.
• Providence Neighborhood Planting ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree planting partnership between the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Providence Neighborhood Planting Program Fund, the City of Providence, and community members. Plants and maintains approximately 500-550 street trees annually to improve public health and tree equity.
• Arizona Sustainability AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit committed to increasing tree canopy in low-income, low-canopy areas in Arizona. Used American Forests' Tree Equity Score Analyzer to identify Thompson Ranch Elementary School in El Mirage, AZ as a priority planting site.
• Newport Tree ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservancy partnered with American Forests and Rhode Island to plant 304 trees in Newport's North End between 2021-2022, targeting low-income housing areas and community gathering places. Operates a 3-year volunteer tree care plan.
• Providence Neighborhood Planting ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the Growing Canopy & Community in South Providence project planting 190 trees in partnership with Providence Forestry Division, Groundwork Rhode Island, and Providence Housing Authority. Community-driven model engaging residents and students.
• TreesLouisvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partnered with Bulleit Bourbon and American Forests to plant 35 trees along East Witherspoon Street in Louisville's Central Business District, targeting the neighborhood with the city's lowest 9% tree canopy coverage.
• King County Department of Natural Resources and ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment department operating the Greening the Green-Duwamish at Mullen Slough project in Kent, WA in partnership with Sound Transit. Planted 6,600 native trees and shrubs to improve habitat for endangered salmon in the Green-Duwamish River watershed.
• Texas Trees FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation operating the Branching Out program in Dallas, TX in partnership with the City of Dallas, Salesforce, and American Forests. Planted 300 trees across six parks in 2022 to combat urban heat and increase equitable greenspace access.
• Western Reserve Land ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand conservancy operating the Sandy Cross Forest Preservation Project (132 acres) in Mansfield, OH as part of its carbon program. Protecting diverse 85-year-old forest from agricultural development and urban expansion threats.
• Lake County Forest Preserve DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict managing nearly 31,000 acres of conservation land, operating a carbon planting project at 16 preserves from 2019-2021, planting 2,660 trees representing 24 species to restore historically altered or degraded lands.
• City of IssaquahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity operating the Harvey Manning Park Expansion project to protect 15.14 acres of 100+ year old forest on Cougar Mountain. Connected to the Mountains to Sound Greenway corridor and protecting salmon-bearing Tibbetts Creek.
• Allegheny Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrust protecting 124 acres of woodlands at Buena Vista Heights Conservation Area near Pittsburgh, preventing residential development encroachment. 40-year-old maple, cherry, and oak-hickory forest providing wildlife habitat and clean drinking water protection.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Pachama: Tech-driven carbon credit marketplace with a strong forestry focus, using satellite monitoring and ML to verify nature-based projects. Comparable as a forest/nature-based credit issuance and verification platform targeting corporate ESG buyers.
• Sylvera: Independent carbon credit ratings and analytics provider that assesses quality of voluntary carbon credits including forestry projects. Comparable as a forestry carbon credit quality/ratings player adjacent to CFC's verification role.
• Plan Vivo: Carbon standard focused on ecosystem services and community-led land use projects with verified credits. Comparable as a niche carbon standard for nature-based, community-oriented projects, though oriented to international land-use contexts.

Broad incumbents

• Gold Standard: International carbon standard body that certifies emission-reduction projects across energy, forestry, and land use. Comparable as a carbon methodology and certification peer, though its scope extends well beyond urban forestry.
• Verra: The dominant global carbon standard/registry operator (VCS Program) covering forestry, REDD+, ARR, and other categories. Overlaps with CFC on forestry carbon protocols but operates at vastly greater scale and across project types globally.

Others

• Arbor Day Foundation: Major nonprofit focused on tree planting and urban forestry programs across the U.S. Thematically comparable as a nonprofit urban forestry organization, though operating as a planting/implementation entity rather than a registry.
• South Pole Group: Major carbon project developer and climate consultancy that develops, registers, and sells forestry/REDD+ credits globally. Comparable as a forestry carbon credit value-chain participant, though vertically integrated into project development rather than registry-only.
• 3Degrees: Climate solutions provider brokering renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets (including forestry) to enterprises. Comparable as a corporate-facing carbon offset distributor with overlap on nature-based credits.

Direct peers

• Climate Action Reserve: U.S.-based carbon offset registry that develops standardized protocols and issues verified credits across multiple project types including forestry. Directly comparable as a competing U.S. carbon registry issuing third-party verified credits, though with broader sector coverage than CFC's urban-only focus.
• American Carbon Registry: U.S. carbon offset registry issuing verified credits with proprietary protocols across forestry, agriculture, and other sectors. Directly comparable as a competing U.S. registry issuing forestry credits with third-party verification.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-forest-credits
• Instagraminstagram.com/cityforestcredits

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Urban Carbon Registry