California Forest Carbon Sequestration Program to Meet AB32 Goals

AB32 Carbon Sequestration Program

In October, 2007, California Air Resources Board (CARB) adoptd the first standards in the US for forest-generated, carbon dioxide emissions reduction projects.  This step is a voluntary, early action set of standards that will help California reach its recent Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32).

This adoption ensures that emissions reductions from forests certified under the "Forest protocols" developed by the California Climate Action Registry will be recognized in California's emerging climate program.

Forest Protocols for CO2 Emissions Reduction

The protocols were developed over  four years by scientists, foresters, climate experts and other stakeholders to ensure CO2 emissions  reductions  from working forests. They will also meet international standards for a credible, transparent accounting method.

Van Eck Redwood Forest Project

The 2200 acre Van Eck Forest Project in Humboldt Co, California, a working redwood forest, was the first to apply the new Protocols.  Two certification teams are involved in the review and verification  process -- SGS North America, a global verification leader, and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) the leading U.S. independent forestry certifier.   After certification, the forest will be monitored annually for compliance and annual reports will also be independently verified. 

Once certified, the owners of the forest expect to sell substantial emissions reduction  offsets in the international carbon market.

Carbon Sequestration by Forests

Forests like this provide climate benefits by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it as carbon in trees for hundreds of years.  Compared to reforestation or afforestation techniques, managing established, working forests to achieve climate benefits is effective due to the fact that older forests have the ability to lay down greater volumes of carbon in shorter periods of time than younger forests. 

In addition, forests prevent loss to development that harvests millions of board feet of living filtration systems provided by trees.  By managing forests to grow older, these mature trees store more carbon than commercial redwood forests usually do.  Selective logging that removes less timber volume than is grown each year increases the CO2 capture while maintaining revenue from responsible harvesting.

SOURCE:  ForestLife, Winter 2007, The Pacific Forest Trust