The American Carbon Registry (ACR), a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has approved version 2.0 of its Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Removals for Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands. IFM version 2.0 is immediately applicable to all new project listings.
The IFM methodology quantifies the carbon sequestration benefits of forests, providing a carbon finance incentive for landowners to achieve a higher standard of sustainable forest management by forgoing intensive harvesting or selling off timberlands. IFM offers an immediate, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to mitigate climate change now, as the economy transitions toward net-zero by mid-century.
The ACR IFM methodology is applicable to a variety of landowner types, including private industrial, private non-industrial, tribal, public non-federal, and non-governmental organizations.
Emissions reductions are quantified when projects exceed baseline forest management, and removals are quantified for retention of annual forest growth. The primary carbon sequestration mechanism is the commitment to grow trees longer and increase forest stocking.
Key updates in version 2.0 of the methodology include further additionality safeguards; increased reporting requirements; further specificity in project accounting, modeling, and verification; and specific accounting of IFM “removals” credits.
ACR Aggregation and Programmatic Development Approach guidance for Improved Forest Management is available for projects wishing to aggregate multiple landowners into a single project at project start, or over time.
Current approved version
Reference documents
Process Documentation
Previously Approved Versions
IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.3
Errata & Clarifications v1.3
ERT Calculator v1.3
Summary of Proposed Modifications IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.2 to v1.3
Proposed Modifications to IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.2 to v1.3
IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.2
Errata & Clarifications IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.2
Summary of Proposed Modifications IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.1 to v1.2
Proposed Modifications to IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.1 to v1.2
Scientific Peer Review Comments & Responses IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.2
IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.1
ACR AFOLU Technical Committee response to proposed modification for v1.1
Proposed Modification IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.0 to v1.1
IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.0
NPV citations and basis v1.0
Description of NPV calculation v1.0
Reference literature v1.0
Regional mill efficiency data v1.0
Assessment area data v1.0
Scientific Peer Review Comments & Responses IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.0
Public Comments & Responses IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.0
Public Comment Draft IFM on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands v1.0
