Collaborating on Carbon

The Collaborating on Carbon project was designed to be a starting point for open dialogue about what is working within U.S. forest carbon markets, to assess existing and potential concerns, and to identify what innovations are needed to enhance benefits and minimize risks. Benefits and risks were considered in the context of the three pillars of sustainability: economic, ecological, and social values. From an economic perspective, considerations included potential impacts on access to raw materials for traditional forest-based economic activities and the diverse products that forests provide throughout homes and businesses. From an ecological perspective, forest biology, associated climate mitigation capacities and risks, and biodiversity were considered. Finally, from a social and cultural perspective, the project team considered the potential effects of carbon markets on the needs and values of local communities, employment and household incomes, state and local tax revenues, and associated quality of life considerations.

The project was completed between October 2023 and August 2024 and consisted of four distinct phases:

• a concept paper,
• a stakeholder survey,
• a pilot mapping tool, and
• a workshop

From the initial design of the project and concept paper development to the final discussions at and following the workshop, several themes and patterns emerged in the project.

Thanks to the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities for financial support to make this project possible.