Forest Management & Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Opportunities
Forests play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Forests act as a carbon sink, meaning they take carbon out of the atmosphere and store it in accumulated living material. Protecting forests and improving their management will help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Forest owners have an opportunity to increase profits through better management of forests which will create longer-lasting wood products. Additionally, improved forest management can increase bioenergy products to displace fossil fuels.
Emissions of GHGs from forests are not regulated. However, there are opportunities for forest management activities to qualify for GHG mitigation credits from various carbon markets. This information sheet is intended to assist individual landowners and educators to better understand the role that forests play in carbon sequestration. Potential GHG mitigation practices outlined in this factsheet include increasing forest growth rate, planting trees on available non-forest land (afforestation) and preventing deforestation and subsequent loss of stored carbon.
For more information on this factsheet or series, contact Peter Woodbury or Jenifer Wightman.
Cost: Free
Time Investment: Not Applicable