Forest Sequestration Project
Forests store, or “sequester” carbon in their biomass fiber and root systems, soils, and coarse woody material. While they act as carbon “sinks,” absorbing carbon dioxide, forests also release the greenhouse gas through natural biological processes or when they are disturbed (i.e., through clear-cutting, harvesting, or burning). Employing sustainable forestry management practices can help reduce emissions and increase the forest’s ability to sequester carbon.
Background
The overwhelming proportion of forested land in northern New England and Eastern Canada is harvested for the forest products industry, and this is a key part of the economy for some areas, such as Maine. ENE is focusing on how forest management strategies can increase terrestrial carbon sequestration to advance state and regional climate change action plans while conserving and expanding forests' environmental and economic benefits. In partnership with the Maine Forest Service (MFS) and the US Forest Service (USFS), ENE is conducting a study in Maine to explore the biological potential of the Northern hardwood forests to sequester carbon through a variety of forest management and silvicultural practices, and to determine the potential for carbon markets to provide enhanced and diversified revenue streams to Maine landowners.ENE's efforts to develop and refine policies that would increase forest carbon sequestration are tied to the development of emerging carbon markets such as RGGI. As part of an effort to help design an effective trading program, ENE is working on developing the criteria for carbon offset projects as part of RGGI and other private and public carbon markets. ENE's research and policy development related to forest sequestration is being transferred to other states and regions through a national network of groups working on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their regions, including Ohio, the Dakotas, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida.
