Stitjønna Project Forest

Stitjønna is located in Søgne along the coast just West of Kristiansand in Norway, and got its name from a small lake at the crossroads of much travelled hiking paths.

The inland area has historically been dominated by forestry, and the coastal archipelago is a much visited tourist destination. It is also known for the location of the oldest human remnant found in Norway: the Søgnekvinnen was a stone-age woman who lived in the area almost 10 000 years ago.

The project forest consists of three separate areas, with pine covered hills and lower terrain with spruce and at least 13 hardwood species. Trees are mostly 100-150 years, with some older trees such as a juniper found to be 250-300 years old. Downfall and dead trees remain, some still standing and some fallen, ensuring valuable habitat for small scale animal life, deer and moose. The project is near densely populated areas and is much used for recreation, running, afternoon walks and weekend camping. There are several registrations of biodiversity value in the area, and preservation project is considered to have a substantial nature value.

Stitjønna holds much high quality timber and is classified as “Hogstklasse 5”, with a few "Hogstklasse 4" stands, meaning it would be planned for imminent harvesting in the absence of the project.

Fossagrim and the landowner have agreed and committed to terms for an exclusive contractual agreement, which will secure continued and undisturbed forest growth and natural CCS through CO2 sequestration for a minimum of 30 years. Stitjønna will serve as a Fossagrim “Habitat Forest”, and we are proud to present this opportunity as a Fossagrim preservation project.