tribes and compatible with tribal forestry goals described by the National Indian Carbon Coalition (2023). ■ Tribes account for a substantial portion of the entire CARB program’s forest acreage. As of 2021, eleven forest-owning tribes in the lower 48 states and 7 native Alaska corporations and villages were participating in this compliance carbon market. The total tribal acreage enrolled in IFM projects was 1.4 million acres, which accounted for 33% of the total 4 million CARB/IFM acreage. Tribal projects averaged 55,314 acres, ranging from 117 acres to 506,729 acres. ■ Tribes accounted for an even larger share of the total carbon credits issued (one credit equals a metric tonne of CO2). Total tribal offset credits of 62 million accounted for 51% of the 122 million reported credits for IFM projects. The average tribal project credit total was 1.64 million, ranging up to 15 million credits. The average credits per acre for all tribes was 63 compared with 54 for all ownerships. For perspective, this average equates to about .63 credits per acre per year or about $13 per acre per year over a 100-year commitment at an assumed value of $20/tonne of CO2 (caution – these estimates are hypothetical and calculated only to better understand the scale of potential revenue contribution).
■ A small number of carbon development companies accounted for most of the tribal acreage and project numbers. Five primary carbon project developers accounted for most of the acreage. Fifty of the 74 individual projects (68%) were developed by four carbon developers. ■ About 2/3 of the forest carbon offset payments were paid upfront, the rest as periodic payments for forest growth. ■ Because payments in the CARB program depend on maintaining carbon inventory at levels predetermined as “common practice” of good management for a particular ecoregion, the difference between the initial inventory and common practice goal gives an idea of the cushion available for harvesting and treatment before falling below the required stocking. The average initial carbon inventory per project acre was 134 metric tonnes CO2 equivalent, or almost 150% of the average common practice inventory of 90 metric tonnes, above average for IFM projects and one of the reasons they were eagerly sought. ■ All offset projects must set aside a portion of the credits as an insurance buffer against project reversals. Average buffer pool contribution was 16.7%, compared to only 14.4% for tribal projects. Tribal buffer pool contributions totaled 8.6 million credits or 42% of the total program IFM set aside.
Observations and Issues Forest carbon and Forest Management Plans. Commitments for carbon
agreements and objectives for maintaining or enhancing forest carbon stocks and sequestration are not reflected in forest or integrated resource management plans. Most of the existing FMPs have not been revised since the tribe entered into a carbon market agreement. There is presently no guidance from DOI/BIA on integrating carbon stewardship goals or carbon market participation in forest management plans. Carbon commitments and forest management. Because participating tribes entered the market with highly stocked forests, there was little need to institute new management strategies or reduce harvests to build carbon stocks up to “common practice” levels. However, these commitments may have implications long-term for exercising a wide range of forest management options. Some tribal forest staff are concerned about potential conflicts between forest management strategies and carbon commitments. They fear strategies to reduce forest density to manage climate- driven fire, insect, and disease risks that might also reduce carbon baselines and net growth in carbon project acres. Some tribes are concerned that meeting carbon program commitments with high carbon inventories could create higher risks of disturbance damage while
“The forest is on a different timescale than us.” —IFMAT IV focus group participant
174 Assessment of Indian Forests and Forest Management in the United States
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