Overview of the Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forest Projects

Abstract

The Forest Offset Protocol lays out the requirements and methods for quantifying the net GHG emission and removals resulting from voluntary project activities undertaken on forested land. The ARB's compliance offset protocol was built off of the Climate Action Reserve's Forest Project Protocol Version 3.2 (CAR 2010). The Forest Offset Protocol covers three types of project activities, the carbon pools included in each project type, and requirements for project eligibility, monitoring, and commitments. The start date, or commencement date, for all three types of projects is the date on which project activities are initiated (e.g., tree planting, recording a conservation easement, initiating forest management activities that increase sequestration and/or decrease emissions). All forest projects earn offset credits over a 25-year crediting period and, with ARB approval, are currently eligible for renewal for an additional crediting period under the then-current protocol version. All forest projects are also subject to a minimum time commitment of 100 years which requires that the seques-tered carbon represented by the offset credit must remain sequestered for 100 years following issuance of the offset credit (California ARB 2015b). 2.1 Types of Forest Projects Three types of forest projects qualify to earn offset credits eligible for AB 32 compliance California ARB (2015b), Sect. 2.1: Reforestation (RF)-Projects restore tree cover on land that is not at optimal stocking levels; Improved Forest Management (IFM)-Projects modify management activities on forested land in order to maintain or increase carbon stocks relative to baseline levels; and