3. “
It is now considered even more certain (> 95%) that human influence has
been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.”
Approximately 40 percent of the Moscow
Region is covered by forestland. More
than 300 rivers also traverse the region.
Beyond the seven million people who live
in the region, Moscow is home to dozens
of mammal species, more than 170
species of birds and a handful of aquatic
and amphibian species.
In 2010, the massive forest fire burned
more than 100 000 hectares in Moscow
Region, destroying wildlife habitat and
popular recreation sites for the densely
populated region. The damage has had
a drastic effect on the local ecosystem,
wiping out wildlife habitat, causing
increased erosion and decreased water
quality, and putting massive amounts of
stored carbon back into the atmosphere.
Climate Change 2013: the Physical Science Basis, IPCC, Stockholm, Sweden.
The main aim of the Business to Forest
project is to unite society, business and
government for restoration of degraded
forests and climate change mitigation.
The reforestation is helping the ecosystem recover from this wildfire, while
also providing the long-term benefits
of carbon sequestration and air quality
improvement to Russia’s second mostp o p u l o u s re g i o n . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e
plantings and subsequent care and
monitoring are providing jobs for the
local community, while also providing
p ro t e c t i o n f o r n o n - t i m b e r f o re s t
products - including wild mushrooms,
berries, cones and more — to grow and
mature for added economic benefits.
Plotava
Mistsevo
Project boundary
Business to forest. 2013 report
3

4. ABOUT THE PROJECT BUSINESS TO FOREST
The project is designed according to
international principles:
Accuracy: The quantified greenhouse gas
or carbon reductions will represent actual
emission reductions. These reductions
are based on approved methodologies
used by CDM and Gold Standard, yearly
monitoring and reporting. Moscow State
Forest University (MGUL) is the scientific
partner of the project.
Permanence: Permanence is commonly
referred to as the useful life of a project
in reducing carbon emissions. The forestlands being restored through this project
have been declared as «Protected Forests
of Moscow» by the Federal Forestry
Agency where no economic activity can
be done.
Leakage: Leakage is the positive or
negative impacts of a project on the
surrounding area outside the project’s
boundary. We had assessed the negative
impact and tried to minimize those
inevitable effects.
Environmental Benefits
Social Benefits
Climate Change Mitigation. Reforestation
combats climate change by carbon
sequestration. The amount of sequestered
carbon will be measured according to
international standards.
Lo c a l E m p l o y m e n t . T h e p ro j e c t
establishes alternative sources of income
and employment opportunities for local
people.
Air Quality Improvement. All forests
of Moscow region have official status«P ro t e c t i ve f o re s t s o f M o s c o w ».
Improvements in air quality generated
by reforestation extend beyond the
sequestration of CO 2 : growing trees
will remo ve air p o llu tan ts su ch as
nitrogen oxides, ammonia and sulfur
dioxide from cars and factories.
Wildlife Habitat Re-establishment.
Reforestation of forest land destroyed
by fire will create valuable wildlife habitat.
In turn, wildlife habitat generates forest
litter, which is an important part of the
food chain and enriches the soil.
Providing habitat for endangered and
threatened species is another potential
benefit.
Erosion Control and Water Treatment.
Tree roots stabilize land soil, which is
susceptible to erosion. By stabilizing the
soil, trees prevent sediment and nutrients
from washing into nearby streams and
rivers. Erosion control and water quality
potential prognosis will be made using
MGUL developed methods.
Recreational Benefits. The reforested
land will provide passive recreational
opportunities gathering forest produce
in cultural and well-being terms, such
as camping, hiking and bird watching.
Recreational potential prognosis will be
made using MGUL developed methods.
Non timber forest products (NTFP).
Local communities will get the opportunity
of gathering forest produce in cultural
and well-being terms including wild
mushrooms, berries, tree boughs, cones,
m o s s , sy r u p , h o n ey a n d m e d i c i n a l
products. NTFP potential prognosis was
made using MGUL developed methods.
S u p p o r t o f c l i m a t e sc i e n c e . T h e
research on environmental benefits of
the project will be made in a partnership
with leading Russian forestry university MGUL.
Environmental Education. Rising social
awareness of climate change, explaining
the environmental role that boreal forests
play in ecosystem. Special workshops
were held among project participants
and volunteers at tree planting events.

5. BUSINESS TO FOREST - 2013
under its «Lets help the nature together»
federal reforestation program. The program
itself lasts for two years showing a great
example of successful CSR practice
established in Russia.
The autumn event was supported by
Alcoa Foundation as a part of its global
Ten Million Tress Program. Volunteers,
students of MGIMO University, bloggers
and NGOs took part in the event. While
listening to some nice reggae music we
planted more than 13 000 pines.
The event ended up with an interactive
eco performance and a workshop on
sustainable forestry as part of FSC Friday
celebration.
On May the event was supported by «Rodniki Rossii»
This year we planted 40 000 pines on
the territory of 10 hectares. These
trees are to capture more than 3 643
tons of CO 2 . Two main tree planting
events were held in May and September.
On May 15 more than 200 volunteers
made their contribution to sustainable
future. Among them you could have seen
students from Moscow universities and
local schools, NGOs, regional and federal
au th o rities, celeb rities, media an d
business representatives. The event was
supported by «Rodniki Rossii» (Mineral
water brand, part of Pepsico Holdings)
The autumn event was supported by Alcoa Foundation
Business to forest. 2013 report
5

6. PROJECT RESULTS
Each business participant received carbon
offset certificate with the amount of CO2
offset and GPS coordinates, photo and
videos reports. Monitoring reports will
be sent to participants yearly. On special
request Russian Carbon Fund made an
evaluation report on «Rodniki Rossii»
federal program «Lets help the nature
together 2012-2013». The following
indicators were included in the report:
сarbon sequestration, oxygen separation,
erosion control and water quality potential
prognosis, recreational potential prognosis,
non-timber forest products prognosis.
We are going to use the experience of
«Business to Forest 2013» project in an
effort to establish a nationwide Federal
program of climate reforestation and
improved forest management projects
in a partnership with Federal Forestry
Agency of Russian Federation and other
participants.
«As the years go by, humanity is facing more and more global challenges that can
not be put aside. It is now the time for the leaders who will lead the way to more
sustainable future. Our team is thankful to all participants of «Business to forest
2013» project. We hope that our joint efforts towards restoration of degraded
forests and climate change mitigation will engage even more followers and
sustainable companies the next year.»
Alexey Shadrin
CEO
Russian Carbon Fund
6
Business to forest. 2013 report

7. Supported by:
Federal Forestry Agency
of the Russian Federation
Project participants:
Project partners:
Media partners:
Department of natural
resources and environmental
management of Moscow
Government
Forestry Committee of the
Government of Moscow Region

8. Our mission is to unite society, business and government for environmental conservation
and sustainable development of the Russian Federation.
We develop and implement turnkey solutions that cover all aspects of sustainable
development. We believe that by cooperation and common effort we will mitigate effects
that are harmful to nature and society for the benefit of present and future generations.
Ecological Projects Development and Support Fund «Russian Carbon».
41 Kirpichnaya Str.,105187,
Moscow, Russia
Moscow
November 2013
Project team:
Alexey Shadrin
Ekaterina Reshetnikova
Ivan Yakubov
Elizaveta Romanova
Sergey Chumachenko
Roman Neretin
Nino Tyaeva
Natalya Shadrina
Report authors:
Prof. Sergey chumachenko
Doctor of biological sciences
Alexey Shadrin
Elizaveta Romanova
Nino Tyaeva