Combatting Climate Change

Making a real difference with forests

New rules would bolster California's carbon market

Laurie Wayburn

Thursday, October 18, 2007

The California Air Resources Board is set to further California's position as a climate leader on Oct. 25, when the board will vote on recommendations to endorse the California Climate Action Registry's forest protocols. The board's endorsement of these rules would create a foundation for the state to use forest conservation and restoration as one of the tools to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in keeping with California's landmark climate law, AB32.

The forest protocols were developed over four years through a public process and expert review. They are a remarkable accomplishment in two ways. First, they've established the first comprehensive set of scientifically rigorous standards to reduce forest emissions and increase net storage (sequestration) of carbon dioxide consistent with the global norms established under the Kyoto Protocol. Second, their establishment has created a "first place" positioning for California's forests in the growing global carbon market, a market that is estimated to exceed $40 billion in revenue this year.

The protocols explicitly include sustainable forestry as a key tool to restore and maintain forest carbon stocks. The first project registered - now being certified - is a forest management project. The end result of this project will be not only greatly increased carbon stores, but also a long-term supply of sustainably harvested wood products. Managing this forest for its long-term climate benefits also ensures jobs producing wood products as well as in forest restoration.

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