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Last updated: 7/3/24
These programs are new and are undergoing rapid changes. We have been following the progress of these programs for the benefit of members. The Kentucky Woodland Owners Association has concerns with the potentially negative impact of any program that does not support ongoing forest management practices. Without ongoing management to control invasive species, forest health will be degraded. We believe carbon credit programs could be designed to support forest health and productivity, while sequestering carbon; but, it is not a simple one size fits all proposition. If you plan to pursue any of the programs described below, their provisions may have changed significantly by the time you enroll. We do not endorse any of these programs, and we suggest that you seek legal and professional advice before participating in any of them. If you have any experience in dealing with forest carbon credits, we would love to hear from you. We can be reached at info@kwoa.net.
Core Carbon
Sponsors: Finite Carbon and LandYield
Finite Carbon is the nation’s biggest provider of carbon offset services for larger landowners. They have developed the Core Carbon platform www.corecarbon.com, so that smaller woodland owners can participate in carbon markets as well.
LandYield is using the Core Carbon platform so landowners can enroll their land and generate income from carbon stored in their forests.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky.
Acreage Requirements: Landowners with forested acres of less than 5000 acres with a minimum of 40 acres being enrolled.
Length of Contract: 40 year minimum
Fees Charged to Participants: None
Payments to Participants: $30-$40 per acre
Requirements of Participants: Commit to a term of at least 40 years, including at least 20 years with a no harvest provision.
Application Process: The process is online. The platform calculates a real-time quote based on remote sensing technology.
Verification Program Used: American Carbon Registry
Last updated 7/3/24
Family Forest Carbon
Sponsors: American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy. Learn more and apply online at www.familyforestcarbon.org.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is scheduled to be available in all counties in Kentucky during the first quarter of 2024.
Acreage Requirements: 30-2400 acres
Length of Contract: 20 years
Payments to Participants: $230 per acre paid over 20 years. The payment rate is $272 per acre if the participant has a Farm Service Agency number.
Requirements of Participants: Restrict timber harvest, with some allowance for sustainable harvests. Confirmation of compliance with terms of management plan is required every five years.
Application Process: Application is filed online to confirm eligibility, followed by a meeting with a forestry professional who walks the land. Actual enrollment follows. The forestry professional is paid by Family Forest Carbon.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 6/10/24
Forest Carbon Works
Sponsors: Forest Carbon Works, a public benefit corporation. Learn more online at www.forestcarbonworks.com.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky.
Acreage Requirements: Minimum 40 acres
Length of Contract: 25 year payment period followed by a 35 year monitoring period. Both may be extended for potentially higher credits.
Payments to Participants: $10 per acre per year is the base payment amount, with higher payments for large acreage and more productive sites.
Requirements of Participants: Limited harvesting is allowed during the 25 year payment period, when up to 10% of the basal area may be harvested. Additional harvesting may incur a fee. Harvests are Forest Stewardship Council certified and are handled by Forest Carbon Works.
Application Process: The entire process is online.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 10/10/23
Forest Carbon Methodology in Question
Forest Carbon News - Verra Says No to NCX: Securing Northeast Forest Carbon Program will continue to monitor what Verra’s decisions mean for the forest carbon offset markets. The link to the Verra decision is https://verra.org/verra-defers-updates-to-the-vcs-program/. Excerpts from Securing Northeast Forest Carbon Program 6/30/22 Newsletter:
“Verra – the organization under which the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), which sets the rules and requirements for calculating, ensuring the quality of, and certifying Verified Carbon Units (VCU’s) that are sold on its carbon registry – recently made a decision not to add NCX’s proposed tonne-year forest carbon accounting method to its VCS Program at this time… full acceptance of the methodology would be required for credits to be sold on Verra’s carbon registry”
“It is unclear at this time what this means for NCX’s forest carbon offset program. NCX posted a response to the Verra decision - https://ncx.com/learning-hub/a-response-to-verras-decision-on-tonne-year-accounting/
Securing Northeast Forest Carbon Program will continue to monitor what Verra’s decisions mean for the forest carbon offset markets. The link to the Verra decision is https://verra.org/verra-defers-updates-to-the-vcs-program/.
Carbon Credits: Carbon credit programs have been around for a long time, but currently are not economically feasible for owners with less than a few thousand acres or so. KWOA Director, Jimmie Sizemore reported on two programs that promise to provide benefits for smaller woodland owners:
First, the Family Forest Carbon Program is a program created by the American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy. The program provides payments to participants who engage in sustainable forestry practices. A pilot program is under way in Pennsylvania. Information can be found at www.forestcarbonworks.org. There are plans to extend the program beyond Pennsylvania.
Second, SilviaTerra Natural Capital Exchange pays landowners to reduce their annual harvest. The program also is being tested in Pennsylvania. The plan is to extend the program geographically. Details are at www.silviaterra.com/ncapx.