The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has published for stakeholder consultation a new Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions and Removals from Avoided Conversion of U.S. Forests to Alternative Land Uses. The methodology was co-authored by Green Assets and ACR.
The methodology details eligibility and carbon quantification requirements for projects that forego conversion of non-federal U.S. forestlands to alternative land uses, including agriculture, mining, or development. Emissions reductions are verified against a baseline of carbon stock changes that would result from conversion of the forested project area to its highest and best use.
The baseline is developed by 1) determining the highest and best use for the project area with an appraisal, 2) identifying the rate of forest loss, and 3) modeling changes in carbon stocks. The project ensures continued forest cover over time.
Additionality is established by demonstrating the project exceeds regulatory requirements and surpasses a benchmark level of performance that compares the appraised value of the existing forestland to its highest and best use. The project action is reinforced through a legal commitment to retain the project area as forestland, such as a conservation easement specific to the carbon project.
The methodology is eligible for ACR aggregation and programmatic development approaches. It also contains an innovative approach to account for the effects of land conversion upon soil carbon loss.
The public stakeholder consultation period is now closed.
Process Documentation
