by Michelle Passero Director of Policy Initiatives Private Forests, Conservation Projects and Climate Change Policy A Presentation for the West Coast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership October 30, 2003 Mission: To preserve, restore, and enhance private productive forestlands Collaborative, problem-solving organization We are: 1) A land trust for working forestlands (CA, OR & WA), 2) An information, education & research center, and 3) A policy institute promoting incentives for long-term forest stewardship: - forest carbon market (projects & policy) - conservation easements ABOUT PFT Conservation Easement Voluntary legal agreement between landowner and land trust Protects conservation values (e.g. habitat, biodiversity, water quality, and carbon stocks) on property Dedication to forest uses Perpetual restriction of specified activities on property PFT Forest Carbon Projects Use conservation easements to secure carbon gains & project principles Executed two forest carbon transactions to offset CO2 emissions based on conservation-based forest management Green Mountain Energy Future Forests Principles for Forest Projects Additionality Permanence Local conservation co-benefits Third party verification Annual monitoring & credit/debit accounting Policy Initiatives: Forest Projects WRI/WBCSD Project Protocol Taskforce Member Road Tester Federal GHG legislation/regulations CA SB 812 (Senator Sher) CA Climate Action Registry Forest workgroup facilitator Forest Project Benefits Significant climate benefits (with right rules) Increase forest carbon stocks (raise average age of forest)/sequestration Prevent release of carbon dioxide (prevent conversion to other uses) Significant local conservation benefits Improved water & air quality, species habitat, biodiversity Relative Carbon Gains from Reforestation, Forest Management, and Conservation (Over 50 years) The Pacific Forest Trust * Reforestation (after 50 years) * Forest Management (changing rotation length from years) * Conservation (Avoided loss) of 200 year old forest Value of Regional Partnership to PFT Assist/inform PFT in policy efforts CA Climate Action Registry forest protocol efforts Other policy strategies for initiatives at state, regional and federal levels Inform our project efforts Targeting specific areas for landowner outreach Implementation of projects PFT Contribution to Regional Partnership Public Outreach Assistance Craft message for stakeholders (e.g. forest landowners) Implement outreach efforts Design outreach plan Policy guidance Provide technical & substantive input based on experience with multiple policy frameworks Can assist with implementation of any policies created (e.g. road testing, legislation) Michelle Passero Director of Policy Initiatives The Pacific Forest Trust 416 Aviation Blvd., Suite A Santa Rosa, CA (707) , ext. 18 Thank you.