Carbon Projects in Alaska: How they work and the risks and rewards

Speakers: Nathan Lojewski, Forestry Manager, Chugachmiut; and Clare Doig, Forest Land Management, Inc.

As forests grow, the trees absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it within their growing biomass (trunk, branches, leaves and root systems).

A “forest carbon offset,” is a metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)—the emission of which is avoided or newly stored—that is purchased by greenhouse gas emitters to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. Offsets may be developed under voluntary market standards or compliance market standards, each of which has specific carbon accounting and eligibility rules.

This presentation will focus on how offset projects work and the different types of forest management activities involved, all with a focus on Alaska. It will also cover specific carbon projects in Alaska and working with land owners (including village corporations) assessing the risks and rewards of such projects and whether or not they want to be involved in a project.