Building even better with timber: pilot phase opens to Liechtenstein

Banks and timber construction at one table

Simon Tribelhorn, managing director of the Liechtenstein Bankers Association, linked the cooperation to the association's strategy: it has committed to sustainability, and many members build with timber themselves. Bridging the timber and finance sectors was one aim of the event. Frank Vasek, then Head of Carbon Solutions at Timber Finance, explained that the company wanted to create incentives for timber construction, raise the share of timber buildings and promote sustainable forestry, thereby supporting the forestry and timber industry indirectly.

If we want to reach net zero, we need projects in decarbonisation.

A pilot phase with Liechtenstein participation

Timber Finance also wanted to include projects from Liechtenstein in its pilot phase. The soft launch had taken place at the end of January 2024, and applications were open until 30 April. A webinar had been held the day before for developers currently delivering a larger timber project. Taking part made sense from 300 cubic metres of timber in the structure, sourced from sustainable forestry. Two compensation models were planned: a purely financial payout to the developer, or counting the credits towards their own carbon portfolios. According to Vasek, net zero can only be reached by combining emission reductions with carbon removal projects.

How Timber Carbon sees it

The terms of the pilot phase are also set out in the Lignum news item from the same period. Timber Carbon, launched in 2026 as a spin-off of Timber Finance, quantifies, certifies and monetises the carbon removed in mass timber buildings as carbon removal credits on the voluntary carbon market. Our Build biobased page explains how developers can take part today.