Spring 2020 ForestLife
Forest carbon offsets: making a difference now and in the long run
Growing and maintaining older forests with bigger trees sequesters enormous amounts of carbon. Offset projects such as the van Eck Forest in California contribute to reducing emissions worldwide.
California is renowned for its leading role in fighting climate change. Conserving and managing forests to be carbon rich and climate resilient are indispensable elements of the solutions the state is implementing, along with reducing carbon emissions from the energy and transportation sectors. Forest carbon offsets, pioneered as a compliance tool under AB 32 and perhaps the best-known forest emissions reductions tool, are an important part of the forest climate solutions portfolio.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB), the lead agency tasked with ensuring the state meets its climate goals, recently convened the Compliance Offset Protocol Task Force (Task Force) to provide guidance in establishing new offset protocols for the Cap-and-Trade Program and recommend improvements to existing protocols. PFT’s Co-CEO Constance Best and PFT Board Member Andrea Tuttle, PhD (former Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE), are on this Task Force established by AB 398 in 2017. Scientists, tribal representatives, environmental advocates, industry experts, and other stakeholder groups also have members serving on the Task Force. It will consider new potential offset protocols that result in direct environmental benefits to California and specifically prioritize disadvantaged communities, Native American lands, and rural and agricultural regions. The options being considered include new potential protocols for grasslands or wetlands.
PFT has a long history of leadership in showing how the climate benefits of forests can, and must, play a key role in solving the climate crisis. We were instrumental in establishing forest offsets in California, sponsoring SB 812 (Sher, 2005) which created state-backed forest carbon offsets, later included as part of California’s cap and trade system. In 2006, PFT’s van Eck Forest in California became the first carbon offset project developed under these rigorous crediting rules. Now, in a few short years, more than 7,000,000 acres of forest are engaged in offset projects in 28 states, demonstrating for the world how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a credible, durable, and enforceable way. Of the 172.7 million carbon offsets issued by the ARB so far, independently-verified forest projects, primarily improved forest management projects which grow and maintain older, natural managed forests, account for about 80%. This reflects not only the importance of forests as climate solutions, but also the practicality of the approach.
Carbon prices at auction have reached all-time highs in recent months, indicating growing demand. This is expected to further increase as California moves to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. In addition to considering new offset project types, the task force will be recommending refinements to the existing protocols based on lessons learned to date and a wider understanding of offset standards for forests. This will encourage more forest owners to provide these real, additional, and rigorously quantified forest offsets. The enormity of the climate crisis and the need to make a difference in the next decade means forest conservation and climate stewardship are crucial to expand. The Task Force will deliver its advice for CARB by the end of 2020.
More in this Issue of ForestLife
- President’s Letter
- Meet Pacific Forest Trust’s Valuable Volunteers
- For love of the land and heritage: Phillips Family Tree Farm
- Governor’s historic Executive Order moves Oregon forward on climate
- Growing our alliance for forests & water
- Forest carbon offsets: making a difference now and in the long run
- Rising from the ashes: restoration at Yosemite
- Safeguarding California’s water supply, the natural way
- 2019 Annual Report