The U.S. Urban Forest Protocol is now available as two project-specific protocols: U.S. Urban Tree Planting and U.S. Urban Forest Management. The protocols provide guidance to quantify and verify GHG reductions from tree planting, maintenance, and/or improved management activities implemented to permanently increase carbon storage through trees.
U.S. Urban Forest Management
| Protocol Version and Link to Further Information | Adoption Date | Notes |
| Version 1.1 | April 18, 2019 | Available for project submission |
| Version 1.0 | June 25, 2014 | No longer available for project submission |
U.S. Urban Tree Planting
| Protocol Version and Link to Further Information | Adoption Date | Notes |
| Version 2.0 | June 25, 2014 | Available for project submission |
| Version 1.1 | March 10, 2010 | No longer available for project submission ARB Compliance Offset Protocol for Urban Forest Projects Comparison of Reserve UFPP to ARB Compliance Offset Protocol for Urban Forest Projects |
| Version 1.0 | August 12, 2008 | No longer available for project submission |
Versions 1.0 through 1.1 of the U.S. Urban Forest Protocol were approved by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) and credits issued under these versions are eligible to be Early Action Offset Credits. In June 2013, ARB published a notice on its website regarding early action project guidance. The notice may be accessed here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/offsets/offsets.htm
The Reserve is working closely with ARB to assist with its review of all Reserve-issued guidance relating to this protocol and the Reserve’s other four protocols that ARB adopted for early action.
Protocol Supporting Documents
The documents and tools below are companions to the protocol and must be used for project development and verification oversight. Note that some documents are relevant to a specific project type – Urban Forest Management (UFM) or Urban Tree Planting (UTP). Please refer to the table below for more details.
| Document/Tool | Description | Project/Protocol Version Relevance |
| Assessment Area Data File | The Assessment Area Data File includes default ratio estimators used to calculate carbon estimates based on the project location. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Assessment Area Development Description | An explanation of how the assessment areas and default ratio estimators were developed for the UFM protocol. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Assessment Area Map | A map of the Assessment Areas used to determine project default ratio estimators. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Assessment Area Shapefiles | Shapefiles of the Assessment Areas used to determine project default ratio estimators. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Biomass Equations (managed trees) | Forthcoming – Biomass equations to be used for quantifying managed trees in the urban area. Applicable only to projects conducting field inventories. | U.S. UTP Protocol V2.0 U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Biomass Equations (unmanaged trees) | Unmanaged trees in the urban area that can be classified as a natural forest stand should utilize the biomass and volume equations (and, if applicable, simplified component ratio method) approved for use with version 3.3 of the U.S. Forest Protocol. Applicable only to projects conducting field inventories. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Project Design Document (PDD) Template – Urban Forest Management Projects | The Project Design Document (PDD) template is a structured outline Project Operators should use. The PDD ensures both consistency and completeness in documenting project information. A PDD is required for Urban Forest Projects’ initial reporting periods. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Project Design Document (PDD) Template – Urban Tree Planting Projects | The Project Design Document (PDD) template is a structured outline Project Operators should use. The PDD ensures both consistency and completeness in documenting project information. A PDD is required for Urban Forest Projects’ initial reporting periods. | U.S. UTP Protocol V2.0 |
| Project Implementation Agreement | Coming soon – A Project Implementation Agreement (PIA) is a required agreement between the Reserve and a Project Operator setting forth the Project Operator’s obligation (and the obligation of its successors and assigns) to comply with the U.S. Urban Forest Protocols. | U.S. UTP Protocol V2.0 U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Project Submittal Form | Forms for submitting urban forest projects are available on our Program and Project Documents page. | All Urban Forest projects |
| Quantification Guidance for Urban Tree Planting Projects | Guidance for quantifying a UTP Project’s carbon stocks, both for purposes of estimating a project’s baseline as well as providing ongoing estimates of project carbon stocks throughout the project life. | U.S. UTP Protocol V2.0 |
| Quantification Guidance for Urban Forest Management Projects | Guidance for quantifying a UFM Project’s carbon stocks, both for purposes of estimating a project’s baseline as well as providing ongoing estimates of project carbon stocks throughout the project life. | U.S. UFM Protocol V1.1 |
| Urban Forest Project Data | Coming soon – Data to be used for the performance standard metrics. | U.S. UTP Protocol V2.0 |
Project Registration Documents
| Document | Description | Required Phase | Privilege |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Forest Project Submittal Form | A proposal to undertake an urban forest project. | Project Submittal | Public |
| Offset Project Listing Information Form – Compliance Protocol | Project Listing Information Form for submitting a compliance offset project under the California Air Resources Board compliance protocol for urban forest projects. | Project Submittal | Public |
| Project Design Document (PDD) | The Project Design Document (PDD) template is a structured outline Project Operators should use. The PDD ensures both consistency and completeness in documenting project information. A PDD is required for Urban Forest Projects’ initial reporting periods. | Verification | Public |
| Physical Boundary Map | Map that shows the physical boundary for the project. | Project Submittal | Public |
| Urban Forest Tree Maintenance Plan | A documentation of planned tree maintenance activities and expenditures. | Verification | Private |
| Urban Forest Tree Monitoring Plan | A documentation of planned tree measurement and monitoring activities. | Verification | Public |
Protocol Development
Use the link below to access information about the original protocol development process and previous versions of the U.S. Urban Forest Protocol. Staff responses to public comments, workgroup participants, and other supporting documents can also be found here.
U.S. Urban Forest Protocol Development
Please contact the Reserve with questions or comments.