It starts in our sustainably managed working forests.

We develop forest carbon projects on a select subset of the 10.4 million acres of timberland we own and steward in the U.S. Our project areas continue to protect critical ecosystems and contribute to the forest economy while being carefully managed to deliver real additionality and durable climate benefits.

We harvest only 2 percent of our forests each year, on average, and 100 percent of our timberlands are reforested after harvest. That ensures our forests continue contributing to clean air and water, supporting wildlife habitat and climate resilience, and providing a reliable supply of renewable timber for products we depend on every day.

Across our company, nearly 100 scientists, researchers and technicians study the forest ecosystems in our care. At the same time, we plan our sustainable forest management activities on at least a 100-year horizon, sometimes mapping as far as 200 years to ensure our forests last forever.

Scaling Forest Carbon Solutions

Our forest carbon projects, designed to increase carbon sequestration and storage, continue to provide timber and ecosystem services, demonstrating nature's most efficient carbon solution at scale.

Delivering Carbon Additionality in Working Forests

4_QuoteCard.pngWe develop every forest carbon project according to our Carbon Credit Principles to ensure our projects deliver real, measurable and durable climate benefits, while continuing to provide the economic and ecosystem benefits communities depend on.

  • Our in-house project development team partners with internal operations and science teams to identify landscapes for project development. Not all forests are suitable for a carbon credit project; however, every project we develop benefits from the input of experts who have decades of experience managing timberlands.
     
  • One of our biggest levers to store more carbon in working forests is extending forest growth before harvest. Over the project's life, more biomass is grown than harvested, resulting in more carbon sequestered and stored.
     
  • Ensuring durable climate impact over time requires active management using the best science, technology and sustainable forest management practices. Our local forest operation teams are regularly on the ground taking proactive steps to ensure our forests remain healthy, resilient and productive ecosystems for the next generation.

 

Realizing the Benefits at Scale

Scaling the carbon market through the supply of high-quality carbon credits plays a key role in ensuring forests continue to provide the ecosystem and economic benefits we depend on.

That’s why our carbon projects are designed to increase carbon storage while maintaining a continuous, sustainable timber harvest. Together, these actions support rural economies and reflect the value of working forests.

 

 

Our working forests support healthy, climate-resilient ecosystems.

Our working forests also create local economic value and community benefits through our direct support.

Who We Work With

We work with industry experts to bring our high-quality carbon credits to market.


ACR oversees the registration and independent verification of greenhouse gas emission reduction and removal projects. Our projects are registered with ACR using its Improved Forest Management (IFM) methodology.


Carbon Direct provides advisory and commercialization services, helping ensure our projects meet the Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal, which are science-based benchmarks to drive effective, equitable climate action at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about our approach to forest carbon project development through the Q&A below.

How do you choose the locations for forest carbon projects?

We continually evaluate all our land holdings to identify potential project areas. We consider a range of factors in our analysis, such as timberland value, local market pricing, our internal mill requirements and third-party supply obligations to ensure our forest carbon projects provide complementary value to our existing operations.

Can timber harvesting continue when forests are included in a forest carbon project?

Yes, at a reduced level. Our projects are designed to continue providing a sustainable timber supply. We take our obligations to customers seriously and consider local relationships and commitments when designing our forest carbon projects.

How do you determine the historical practice to establish baselines for your projects?

To ensure the long-term sustainability of our working forests, we employ a 100-year planning horizon that guides our harvest levels and silvicultural decisions. This approach leverages decades of operational data and on-the-ground experience that ensures our forests last forever.

Our internal planning systems and benchmarking tools provide a robust framework to review past management practices and set future model constraints effectively. This wealth of experience and a rigorous internal review process allows us to develop transparent baselines that accurately reflect our true business-as-usual scenarios. This approach leads to conservative and credible baselines that reinforce the integrity of our carbon projects.