> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://aetlas.gitbook.io/aetlas/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://aetlas.gitbook.io/aetlas/for-project-developers/references-and-other-guidance/additional-principles-for-forestation-and-agroforestry-projects/additionality-and-baselines.md). # Additionality and baselines PROJECT DEVELOPERS MUST * Determine the natural regeneration baseline using the best available science to predict natural seedling establishment and forest growth in the absence of tree planting. * Avoid damaging, destroying, or harvesting pre-project trees during site preparation. * Ensure pre-project trees are excluded from crediting and monitored through the crediting period. * Demonstrate that forestation or agroforestry activities are a result of carbon finance or could not occur otherwise (for projects with non-carbon finance streams, such as from expected timber sales or conservation funds). PROJECT DEVELOPERS SHOULD * Establish control plots to directly measure natural regeneration or other growth in comparable parts of the surrounding landscape over the course of the project. * Use historical time series of remote-sensed data sufficient to show that natural recovery of forest is very unlikely to occur when claiming a negligible natural regeneration baseline. * Use a crediting approach that adjusts dynamically if legal compliance or other land use dynamics change over time, especially where the project area is legally supposed to be forested, but it is generally not, or there is otherwise uncertainty about evolving land use. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://aetlas.gitbook.io/aetlas/for-project-developers/references-and-other-guidance/additional-principles-for-forestation-and-agroforestry-projects/additionality-and-baselines.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.