Project Description
In May 2024, a 0.8-hectare paulownia project was established on the grounds of Buitenplaats Natuurlijk Goed in Oosterwolde, The Netherlands. Approximately 600 Paulownia trees were planted, interspersed with 27 hazel trees and 3 walnut trees. The project aims to combine carbon sequestration with ecological enrichment of the estate's landscape. The first harvest is planned after 12 years, following the paulownia's characteristic fast-growth cycle.
Carbon is stored in aboveground biomass, belowground root biomass, and soil organic carbon (SOC). The project follows the ONCRA Land Stored Carbon Protocol, with a certification period of 10 years (2024–2034) and a total project duration of 20 years.
About the Remover
The project is owned and operated by Gerrit van de Weg and Alaine Kruithof, the proprietors of Buitenplaats Natuurlijk Goed — an estate near Elburg on the Veluwe that operates as an award-winning bed & breakfast, meeting venue, and sustainable farm producing Veluws meadow beef. The paulownia planting reflects the owners' broader commitment to nature-inclusive land use and sustainable stewardship of the estate's grounds.