Event Link

Description: Recent discussions between California landowners, environmental groups, the Climate Action Reserve, and government agencies have focused on the nature of legal requirements under California’s Forest Practice Rules and how they should be interpreted for the purposes of determining a baseline for forest projects under the Climate Action Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol (FPP). Specifically, the question is whether the California Forest Practice Rules’ requirements related to Maximum Sustained Production of High Quality Wood Products (14 CCR 913.11 (933.11, 953.11)) should be considered a “legal constraint” on the baseline for improved forest management projects, as specified in Section 6.2.1.1 of the FPP.

The Climate Action Reserve staff has drafted preliminary guidance that would require treating Maximum Sustained Production (MSP) plans filed with the California Department of Forestry and Fire (CalFIRE) as a “legal constraint.” Under this guidance, project proponents would have to model a baseline growth and harvest regime that reflects the same mix of silviculture and management intensity used in the MSP document.

The Reserve has heard from a number of stakeholders regarding this interpretation and is seeking to bring stakeholders, the public and the Reserve together to fully examine and understand this issue. Thus, the Reserve will be holding a public workshop.

We are inviting alternative proposals and other public comments on this topic so that the Reserve can reach an appropriate final decision. The Reserve requests that alternate proposals be submitted no later than Friday March 12 to policy@climateactionreserve.org to ensure they can be included in the March 18 workshop discussion. This will encourage a meaningful dialogue on a wide range of perspectives. The Reserve will forward the alternative proposals received to its email distribution list.

In addition to attending the workshop, all stakeholders and members of the public are welcome to submit final written public comments regarding the interpretation and application of legal requirements under California’s Forest Practice Rules. Comments should be submitted by April 30, 2010 to policy@climateactionreserve.org.

Following receipt and review, staff will respond in writing to all comments and proposals and will draft a final recommendation for consideration by the Reserve Board by June 2010.

Click here for the Reserve’s preliminary draft guidance relating to the treatment of MSP requirements, as well as a document from the California Department of Forestry legal requirements of the California Forest Practice Rules.