The European Commission has opened public consultation on the draft rules for certifying carbon farming across the EU: the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF). This is your chance to shape how farmers and foresters get certified and paid for storing carbon. Feedback deadline: 19 February 2026 on the EU’s “Have Your Say” portal.
What We’re Seeing in the Draft
The regulation covers agriculture, agroforestry, peatland rewetting, and reforestation, with smart flexibility built in:
- Projects started in 2023 or later are eligible to apply retroactively
- Monitoring happens every 5 years (certification audits)
- Soil health is central throughout; not just carbon counts
- Tree rules are practical: Mixed species required (unless naturally single-species forests), minimum 0.5 hectares, no planting on land that was >10% forested in the last 20 years
- Activity periods vary by practice: Agriculture (5-year cycles up to 20 years total), agroforestry (two 15-year periods), peatlands (three 10-year cycles), reforestation (30 years + monitoring)
The regulation intentionally leaves room for different approaches, using “such as” rather than exhaustive lists, making it adaptable across Europe’s diverse regions.
How Oncra Relates to CRCF
Oncra’s Land Stored Carbon Protocol already follows the CRCF’s main framework. We’re structured around the same core principles: rigorous measurement, permanence accountability, and sustainability co-benefits. Oncra collaborates to be recognised as a scheme under CRCF.
Next Steps
Feedback is open until 19 February 2026. If you work with land, carbon, or climate: share your experience on what works and what doesn’t. We are monitoring the consultation closely and will report back with relevant outcomes.