When Version 3.0 of the Climate Action Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol (FPP) was adopted by the Reserve’s Board of Directors on September 1, 2009 the Board instructed Reserve staff to continue to explore a series of issues related to forest carbon accounting and forest management practices. To this end, the Reserve has commissioned a series of white papers to examine these issues in more depth. The white papers cover the following topics:

1. Accounting for carbon in soils affected by forest carbon projects
2. Accounting for carbon in lying dead wood
3. Effects on forest carbon of even-aged management and alternative silvicultural activities
4. Evaluation of sustainable forestry certification programs and criteria
5. Assessment of forest project eligibility on federal lands

The first four of these papers are now completed and available for download below.

• Accounting for Carbon in Soils
• Carbon Accounting and Management of Lying Dead Wood
• Carbon Dynamics Associated with Even-Aged Management
• Sustainable Forest Management Certification

Proposed Strategy to Revise the Forest Project Protocol in Response to White Papers

In response to the forest protocol white papers and stakeholder feedback, the Reserve has proposed a strategy to revise the Forest Project Protocol. Please review the document below for further detail.

Proposed Strategy to Revise the Forest Project Protocol (June 20, 2011)

Public Comments

The objective in developing these white papers is to provide a basis for further engagement and discussion with stakeholders to determine whether changes are necessary to the FPP’s accounting and eligibility requirements. The Reserve held a 45-day public comment period for written comments on the four completed white papers. The comment period ended on March 25, 2011 and public comments are available below. The Reserve will also respond to all comments received in writing and propose further steps as necessary to amend the FPP based on its findings.

Summary of Comments and Responses – Forest White Papers (June 20, 2011)

Blue Source LLC	Karen Maki
Catherine Koehler, UC Davis	Kim Mattson, Ecosystems Northwest
Center for Biological Diversity	L&C Carbon
Central Coast Forest Watch	Pacific Forest Trust
Deanna Wulff, Journalist	Rainforest Action Network
Ebbett’s Pass Forest Watch	Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Forest Stewardship Council	Weyerhaeuser Company

Public Workshop

The Reserve hosted two public workshops to solicit further input from the public on these papers. Please see below for the webinar presentation slides, agendas, and video presentations.

Forest White Papers Public Workshop Presentation Slides – March 2011

Monday, March 7, 2011
Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University
Durham, NC
Agenda
Video Presentation

Thursday, March 10, 2011
California EPA Headquarters Building
Sacramento, CA
Agenda
Video Presentation

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If you have questions about the forest protocol white papers, please contact policy@climateactionreserve.org.