Carbon Forestry Course (23 February – 13 March 2026 )
The annual carbon forestry course at Freiburg University runs from 23 February – 13 March 2026. It is implemented in collaboration with UNIQUE Forestry and Land Use (Freiburg) and Moriz Vohrer (naturebase, Freiburg). !!! Application deadline extented to 15th November 2025 !!!
Dates: 23 February – 13 March 2026
| Course type | Fees in Euro | Deadline |
| Regular track |
1900,- | 15/11/2025 |
| Regular track student rate |
1100,- | 15/11/2025 |
| Online track |
1100,- | 31/01/2026 |
| Online track student rate |
900,- | 31/01/2026 |
Application deadline regular track: 15 November 2025
Application deadline online track: 31 January 2026
The capturing and storage of carbon in forests and soils is one vital ecosystem service provided by terrestrial ecosystems and contributes significantly to climate change mitigation. Many international and national efforts are undertaken to increase forest carbon storage capacity and stocks and these are widely supported by international and national policies and policy instruments. There is a growing need for professionals with competencies in the development of land-use based mitigation projects and with knowledge of related international and national climate change mitigation policy instruments.
The Chair of Silviculture at Freiburg University offers in cooperation with UNIQUE and Moriz Vohrer (naturebase), renown partners active in the land-use sector, a three-week course in Carbon Forestry. This continuing education course has been offered for ten years to forest and other land use professionals and was each year considered highly useful for participants to further their career developments.
Participants of this course will learn about recent developments in international climate change policies and programs, and compliance and voluntary carbon markets. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Analyse and evaluate carbon land use enhancement project documents
- Design carbon forestry projects, including REDD+, Afforestation/Reforestation, Improved Forest Management, and Smart Climate Agriculture projects
- Determine emission reduction effects and the amount of carbon credits generated by projects, using appropriate methods and tools
- Have had hands on experience with quantifying carbon stocks in tree plantations
- Plan and undertake assessments of carbon stocks and fluxes to monitor forestry and other land-use carbon projects
- Apply principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and environmental and social safeguards in carbon forestry projects
- Critically evaluate climate change policies, including development perspectives of carbon forestry and emission reduction markets
- Understand financing mechanisms for carbon forestry projects.
Photo Joachim Schmerbeck - Palni Hills, South India
There are two different possibilities of how to participate in the Carbon Forestry Course:
1. Regular Track (23 February – 13 March 2026). The regular track offers the full experience of the course. The first week is entirely online, featuring self-study through video lectures that cover all aspects of Carbon Forestry. In the second week, all participants will meet in person in Freiburg to engage in more lectures, discussion sessions, excursions around the city and group work. The third week is dedicated primarily to group work, in which a real-life carbon project is analyzed, The group work is to be present to the course participants and a written report is to be prepared. Students requiring ECTS points will complete the course with an additional oral examination. External participants can join this examination on request. The grade achieved with the exam will be mentioned on the certificate.
Course fee: 1900,- Euro*
Student rate: 1100,- Euro
Application deadline: 15 November 2025
2. Online Track (23 February – 13 March 2026). An online version of the course is designed for participants who are not able to travel to Freiburg. Fast track participants will join the first week online self-study and have access to all video lectures. During the second week, fast track participants will join live lectures and discussions via Zoom but will not participate in group work. However, they can join the group work presentations at the end of the course via zoom.
Course fee: 1100,- Euro
Student rate: 900,- Euro
Application deadline: 31 January 2026
If more than one employee from a company is interested in attending the course, please contact us.
If required, we recommend that applicationts seek indicidual funding from funding institutions like:
- Heinrich Böll Foundation
- DAAD
- Alexander von Humbold Foundation
- Natioinal or regional foundations in your home country
We are happy to issue a confirmation of participation for applications to funding agencies.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the application.
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Contact for more information and application documents: Dr. Joachim Schmerbeck |
Application Form (click here)