Optimizing the Greenhouse Gas Storage Capacity and Productivity of Degraded Forest Lands

Forest-based carbon offsets projects provide payments to landowners for securing carbon dioxide by planting trees, using improved forest management techniques, and avoiding development. Offsets present incentives for landowners to leave forests intact and manage for improved carbon storage and productivity. Emerging global carbon markets have already helped fund the conservation of large tracts of forests in California, the Midwestern United States, and internationally. The goal of this project is to adapt successful market approaches for carbon finance used in other regions for application to a degraded forestlands property in Vermont.