The Climate Action Reserve is developing a U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol that will provide guidance on how to quantify, monitor, report, and verify climate benefits from the production and use of biochar, which is capable of locking up carbon and keeping it from re-entering the atmosphere for centuries. Biochar production provides an opportunity for the productive use of a variety of feedstocks that are otherwise considered waste biomass, including non-merchantable residues from timber harvests and fuel thinnings.

Workgroup

The U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol is being developed through the Reserve’s multi-stakeholder workgroup process. The Reserve strives to create a well-balanced workgroup consisting of industry representatives, project developers, environmental NGOs, verification bodies, independent consultants, academia, and government bodies.

Workgroup member organizations are listed below:

Stakeholders not chosen to be part of the workgroup are encouraged to participate in the process as “observers.” Observers may attend workgroup meetings in listen-only mode, submit written comments on the draft methodology when it is available for public comment, and attend the public webinar held during the public comment period.

Workgroup Meetings

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 7: Protocol Draft (April 27, 2023)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 6: Protocol Draft (April 26, 2023)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 5: Protocol Draft (April 25, 2023)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

• U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol V1.0 – Draft for workgroup review
• Eligible Biochar Feedstocks List – Draft for workgroup review
• Eligible Biochar End Uses List – Draft for workgroup review

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 4: End Use Eligibility and Permanence (December 15, 2022)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 3: Baseline Setting (December 6, 2022)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 2: Feedstock Eligibility and Sustainability Standards (November 17, 2022)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording

Biochar Workgroup Meeting 1 (November 4, 2021) and Follow Up Meeting (November 16, 2021)

• Reserve presentation
• Meeting recording (November 4, 2021)
• Meeting recording (November 16, 2021)

Kickoff Webinar

The Reserve hosted a public webinar on August 12, 2021 to kickoff the U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol development process.

• Meeting recording
• Presentation slides

Market Analysis and Pilot Projects

A biochar market analysis evaluating the potential scale of credits that can be produced from biochar and the anticipated demand for such credits was developed by Blue Forest, who is also providing financial support for the analysis courtesy of funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, with advisory services provided by Daniel Sanchez, Assistant Specialist in Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California-Berkeley.

• Biochar market analysis

Additionally, several pilot projects (provided by Pacific Biochar, Biochar Solutions, and additional biochar producers yet to be determined) will be developed alongside the protocol to test viability of offset project requirements. 

Development Timeline

The following timeline will be updated as the protocol development process unfolds.

Resources

• Evaluation of the Opportunities for Generating Carbon Offsets from Soil Sequestration of Biochar

Financial Support

Partial funding support for the development of the U.S. and Canada Biochar Protocol, market analysis, and pilot projects was provided by a Wood Innovations Grant from the USDA Forest Service and a Forest Health Grant from CAL FIRE.

This project was funded in part by the U.S. Forest Service Wood Innovations Program.

   
Also funded in part by CAL FIRE.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

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Please contact the Reserve with questions or comments.