March 2023 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN March 2023 Page 65 Staff A new program, the Family Forest Carbon Program, allows individual landowners of prop- erties with forested acreage to benefit from carbon markets. Individuals own the largest portion of forestland in the U.S. The program allows owners of wooded acreage to profit econom- ically and contribute to the fight to curb climate change by allowing their forest lands to stay wooded. The program was developed by the American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy. It takes advantage of a new forest carbon accounting technolo- gy. This new approach provides a highly credible claim of addition- alilty. At its most basic, addition- ality asks, ‘is the carbon generated from a forest carbon project addi- tional or would it have happened absent the particular program or intervention?’ If it would have happened , regardless of whether the program existed or not, then the carbon arising is not additional – it is coincidental . If, on the other hand, the impact would not have happened but for the program, then the impact can be called additional. Inspired by medical trials that use a control group, the new methodology uses observed base- lines to measure the performance of a forest practice on an enrolled property compared to unenrolled properties that are conducting business as usual forest practices. This method isolates the Family Forest Carbon Program as the single variable that contributes to the carbon removed and reduces the challenges around projected baselines most commonly used in existing carbon projects. The new methodology is being reviewed and validated by Verra, the globally recognized non- profit organization that oversees the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), and is pending final approval. The Family Forest Carbon Program pays small forest holders upfront to implement climate-smart forestry practices that go above and beyond what is otherwise com- mon practice. The program also provides landowners with profes- sional expertise and guidance to help them transition to sustainable management long term. • A long-term resource for landowners to improve the health and value of their woodlands, including expert assistance from forest professionals. • Income from the land that can cover the costs of cli- mate-friendly forest management activities. • A voluntary, incentiv- ized-based option to play a role in the fight against climate change that complements other govern- ment tools and programs. • An opportunity to provide economic support for local com- munities. The Family Forest Carbon Program is currently enrolling eligible landowners in Maryland, Massachusetts, NewYork, Pennsyl- vania, Vermont and West Virginia. Interested owners can check their eligibility and get more information at familyforestcarbon.org. New Program Allows Landowners to Access Climate Markets