Report

What’s inside?

Valuing carbon stocks within forestland has become a promising new method of incentivizing

conservation efforts around the world. In 2016, 10 million MtCO2e (Metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent) were transacted in the carbon market within the United States alone for an estimated $28 million Given that there are 11.5 million square miles of forest in the US the potential growth of this market is vast2. Valuing carbon in forest management can provide a means of drawing attention to the importance of preserving carbon stocks in order to mitigate climate change and encourage landowners to save their forestland for future generations.

Since 2012, when the California Air Resources Board began administering requirements for large greenhouse gas emitters to stay under emission limits or purchase allowances to exceed them (cap and trade), the United States has become a leader in carbon offset transactions. However, a voluntary market has also arisen as individuals, companies and organizations have sought means of offsetting their carbon emissions, in order to help contribute to a sustainable global environment. Landowners who take action to conserve the carbon in forested lands can now

generate a profitable income for refraining from clear-cutting, or reforesting formerly cleared land, because such actions prevent emissions. To take advantage of the opportunity one must navigate the world of carbon registries and protocols. This guide was produced to introduce the  novice to this new market and provide helpful information concerning how to participate in it, to accelerate the use of carbon credits for forest conservation.