Carbon Look-up Tables Explained

If your forest is under 100 hectares, you’ll use MPI’s standard look-up tables to calculate your carbon credits. Understanding these tables helps you predict earnings and choose the right approach.

What Are Look-up Tables?

Look-up tables are pre-calculated values showing how much carbon is stored in a forest of a given type, age, and region. Instead of measuring your actual forest, you “look up” the standard value.

Think of them as average performance figures for New Zealand forests, based on research and inventory data.

How They’re Used

Step-by-Step Calculation

  1. Identify your forest type (species category)
  2. Identify your region (for radiata pine)
  3. Look up carbon stock at current age
  4. Multiply by area to get total stock
  5. Compare to previous year to find the change
  6. Change in stock = NZUs earned (or surrendered)

Example

10 hectares of radiata pine in the Auckland region:

YearAgeCarbon/haTotal StockChangeNZUs
20238160 t1,600 t——
20249200 t2,000 t+400 t400
202510250 t2,500 t+500 t500

Each year you earn NZUs equal to the increase in carbon stock.

Available Tables

Radiata Pine (by Region)

The most detailed tables, reflecting regional growth differences:

North Island:

South Island:

Each region has different accumulation curves based on climate, soils, and typical performance.

Douglas Fir

National table (not regionalised):

Other Exotic Softwoods

Generic table covering:

This table is conservative — actual performance of some species may exceed it.

Exotic Hardwoods

Generic table for:

Variable applicability — fast-growing eucalypts may significantly outperform.

Indigenous Forest

Single national table for all native species:

No differentiation between fast-growing kanuka and slow-growing podocarp.

Table Accuracy

The Conservative Issue

Research suggests lookup tables may underestimate actual carbon in well-managed forests:

Studies have found:

Why tables are conservative:

What This Means

If your forest outperforms:

If your forest underperforms:

Table Updates

MPI periodically reviews tables. Future updates may:

Stay informed about table changes.

Choosing Between Tables and FMA

For forests under 100 hectares, you can choose:

Use Lookup Tables If:

Consider FMA If:

Economic test: If FMA costs $X and unlocks $Y in additional credits, you need Y > X for it to make sense.

Regional Variations for Radiata Pine

High-Growth Regions

Some regions have higher table values:

These reflect favourable growing conditions.

Lower-Growth Regions

Some regions have lower table values:

Reflects cooler temperatures and shorter growing seasons.

Implications

Where you plant affects earnings:

Working with Tables

Finding Current Tables

Official tables are published by MPI:

Projection and Planning

Use tables to project future earnings:

Record Keeping

Maintain records of:

Tables may be updated; knowing which version you used matters for records.

Limitations to Accept

No Site-Specific Recognition

Tables don’t account for:

You’re credited for average, regardless of actual performance.

Slow to Update

Tables are based on research that takes years to compile. Your well-performing forest may outstrip table assumptions for years before tables catch up.

Single Native Category

All natives are averaged together:

Key Takeaways

  1. Tables = standardised values for forests under 100 ha
  2. Radiata pine is regionalised — different tables for different areas
  3. Tables are conservative — often below actual performance
  4. FMA is an option if you outperform significantly
  5. Tables provide certainty — predictable earnings
  6. Updates happen — stay informed

Next Steps

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