VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 2 | SPRING 2025 STATE ON TRACK TO SELL FOREST CARBON CREDITS
Tanana Valley State Forest chosen to begin program starting in '26 BY TIM BRADNER ALASKA’S DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RE- SOURCES IS ON TRACK FOR THE FIRST SALE OF FOREST CARBON CREDITS FROM THE TANANA VALLEY STATE FOREST IN THE INTERIOR IN LATE 2026, ACCORDING TO THE DNR. This would also bring the first revenue to the state from the program, which has been championed by Gov. Mike Dunleavy as a new source of state income, along with another program to lease state-owned un- derground oil and reservoir space for se- questering or storing carbon dioxide inject- ed down special wells. On forest carbon credits, an experi- enced consulting firm, Terra Verde, is now under contract to DNR to help develop and coordinate registration of the Alaska proj- ect with a recognized carbon registry, the American Carbon Registry (ACR). ACR is an independent entity that would oversee the project and issue the carbon credits. Terra Verde would do the science in evaluating the ability of forest- ed acreage to store carbon which would then be verified by the ACR. Actual sales of credits would be by the state, with Terra Verde assisting. The plan for forest carbon sales in late 2026 is ahead of the schedule given to the Legislature when legislation passed ap- proving the program. DNR said the initial feasibility work for the Tanana Valley proj- ect has been completed but that the agen- cy must still do a best interest finding, the public process that ensures the project is in the best interest of the state. The Tanana Valley State Forest was cho- sen to begin the program because its forest management plan will be the first to be re- vised to allow for carbon projects. Specific
DNR said the initial feasibility work for the Tanana Valley project has been completed but that the agency must still do a best inter- est finding, the public process that ensures the project is in the best interest of the state.
parts of the forest would be involved, por- tions with “merchantable” timber including white spruce and birch that have superior ability to absorb and store carbon as com- pared with black spruce common in the area. Carbon credit sales involve buyers pur- chasing credits based on the amount of car- bon stored in forests. Buyers are typically large corporations engaged in businesses or industries where carbon dioxide is emitted through their operations. While companies typically take steps to minimize carbon emissions, at some point that is not economically feasible and the
company buys carbon “offset” credits, for example from a forest owner who guaran- tees not to harvest trees, at least significant- ly, so they can continue to absorb carbon from the air. Here's an overview of how these pro- grams operate: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, and the amount of carbon stored is estimated by first invento- rying trees to establish a baseline for carbon dioxide absorbed. There is remeasuring pe- riodically. The independent carbon registry then reviews the methods and data used in measuring and reporting before verifying the credits for sale.
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www.AKRDC.org
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