Guidebook for Domestic Forest Landowners in the Emerging Low-Carbon Economy

Abstract

A new low-carbon economy is approaching. While the federal government provides needed incentives in the development of clean energy to stimulate this emerging economy, currently only states and regions have implemented a comprehensive program which sends to markets a signal as to the price of carbon. However, when a federal program is enacted it will inherently have winners and losers, determined by market dynamics, regulatory structure and political preference. Forestry looks to be a winner as forest offsets – activities which sequester carbon in forested land beyond business-as-usual – will play a critical role. As such, educating landowners to the opportunities of offsets is a fundamental first step in the development a robust and effective climate change program. This masters project, crafted from a literature review and informal interviews, develops an educational Guidebook which introduces U.S. forest landowners to the methodologies, responsibilities and costs of a possible federally administered forestry offset program, as based from the Clean Energy Partnerships Act of 2009, its likely legislative vehicle. The Guidebook also serves as the basis to develop a summary document to potentially be circulated by the U.S. Forest Service and the American Forest Foundation to landowners and foresters. It provides recommendations as to the content of the summary document as well as how to best facilitate its dissemination.