FOREST CARBON CREDIT PROGRAMS
CORE CARBON
Sponsors: Finite Carbon and LandYield
Finite Carbon is the nation’s biggest provider of carbon offset services for larger landowners. They have developed the Core Carbon platform, www.corecarbon.com, so that smaller woodland owners can participate in carbon markets as well.
LandYield is using the Core Carbon platform so landowners can enroll their land and generate income from carbon stored in their forests.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky
Acreage Requirements: Landowners with forested acres of less than 5000 acres with a minimum of 40 acres being enrolled.
Length of Contract: 40 years, made up of two 20 year crediting periods.
Fees Charged to Participants: None
Payments to Participants: Offset prices are fixed during the first three years of the project. In the remaining years of the crediting period, LandYield will determine the market price at the time of each issuance.
Requirements of Participants: Commercial harvests in enrolled areas are deferred for the first 20 year period of the offset project. During the second 20 year period, landowners can elect to either implement sustainable harvesting or commit to another harvest deferral and generate additional offset revenue.
Application Process: The process is on line. The platform calculates a real-time quote based on remote sensing technology.
Verification Program Used: American Carbon Registry
Last updated 8/2/23
Finite Carbon is the nation’s biggest provider of carbon offset services for larger landowners. They have developed the Core Carbon platform, www.corecarbon.com, so that smaller woodland owners can participate in carbon markets as well.
LandYield is using the Core Carbon platform so landowners can enroll their land and generate income from carbon stored in their forests.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky
Acreage Requirements: Landowners with forested acres of less than 5000 acres with a minimum of 40 acres being enrolled.
Length of Contract: 40 years, made up of two 20 year crediting periods.
Fees Charged to Participants: None
Payments to Participants: Offset prices are fixed during the first three years of the project. In the remaining years of the crediting period, LandYield will determine the market price at the time of each issuance.
Requirements of Participants: Commercial harvests in enrolled areas are deferred for the first 20 year period of the offset project. During the second 20 year period, landowners can elect to either implement sustainable harvesting or commit to another harvest deferral and generate additional offset revenue.
Application Process: The process is on line. The platform calculates a real-time quote based on remote sensing technology.
Verification Program Used: American Carbon Registry
Last updated 8/2/23
FAMILY FOREST CARBON
Sponsors: American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy. The web address is www.familyforestcarbon.org.
Availability in Kentucky: They expect to be available in the Appalachian region of Kentucky in January 2024 and in the rest of Kentucky within another few years.
Acreage Requirements: Minimum 30 acres
Length of Contract: 20 years
Payments to Participants: $160-$295 per acre, depending on the details of the property. Most of the payments are made in the early stages of the contract.
Requirements of Participants: Restrict timber harvest, with some allowance for sustainable harvests. Confirmation of compliance with terms of management plan is required every five years.
Application Process: Application is filed on line to confirm eligibility, followed by a meeting with a forestry professional who walks the land. Actual enrollment follows. The forestry professional is paid by Family Forest Carbon.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 10/30/23
Availability in Kentucky: They expect to be available in the Appalachian region of Kentucky in January 2024 and in the rest of Kentucky within another few years.
Acreage Requirements: Minimum 30 acres
Length of Contract: 20 years
Payments to Participants: $160-$295 per acre, depending on the details of the property. Most of the payments are made in the early stages of the contract.
Requirements of Participants: Restrict timber harvest, with some allowance for sustainable harvests. Confirmation of compliance with terms of management plan is required every five years.
Application Process: Application is filed on line to confirm eligibility, followed by a meeting with a forestry professional who walks the land. Actual enrollment follows. The forestry professional is paid by Family Forest Carbon.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 10/30/23
FOREST CARBON WORKS
Sponsor: Forest Carbon Works, a public benefit corporation. The web address is www.forestcarbonworks.com.
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky
Acreage Requirements: Minimum 40 acres
Length of Contract: 25 year payment period followed by a 35 year monitoring period. Both may be extended for potentially higher credits.
Payments to Participants: $10 per acre per year is the base payment amount, with higher payments for large acreage and more productive sites.
Requirements of Participants: Limited harvesting is allowed during the 25 year payment period, when up to 10% of the basal area may be harvested. Additional harvesting may incur a fee. Harvests are Forest Stewardship Council certified and are handled by Forest Carbon Works.
Application Process: The entire process is on line.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 10/10/23
Availability in Kentucky: The program is currently available in Kentucky
Acreage Requirements: Minimum 40 acres
Length of Contract: 25 year payment period followed by a 35 year monitoring period. Both may be extended for potentially higher credits.
Payments to Participants: $10 per acre per year is the base payment amount, with higher payments for large acreage and more productive sites.
Requirements of Participants: Limited harvesting is allowed during the 25 year payment period, when up to 10% of the basal area may be harvested. Additional harvesting may incur a fee. Harvests are Forest Stewardship Council certified and are handled by Forest Carbon Works.
Application Process: The entire process is on line.
Verification Program Used: Verra
Last updated 10/10/23
NCX
Sponsor: NCX, a privately held company. The web address is www.ncx.com.
Availability in Kentucky: Their one year program was in operation in Kentucky in 2021 and 2022. There are no scheduled future NCX programs. NCX is now in the business of matching the requirements of specific landowners with programs offered by other project developers. They also plan to include National Resource Conservation Service and local Conservation District programs in their offerings. These programs may include benefits for conservation practices involving timber, water, and wildlife as well as carbon sequestration.
Acreage Requirements: This would vary depending on the program. The focus is on smaller landowners.
Length of Contract: 5-40 years
Payment to Participants: This would vary depending on the program.
Requirements of Participants: This would vary depending on the program.
Application Process: The entire registration process is on line and there is no cost.
Verification Program Used: N/A
Last updated 10/24/23
Availability in Kentucky: Their one year program was in operation in Kentucky in 2021 and 2022. There are no scheduled future NCX programs. NCX is now in the business of matching the requirements of specific landowners with programs offered by other project developers. They also plan to include National Resource Conservation Service and local Conservation District programs in their offerings. These programs may include benefits for conservation practices involving timber, water, and wildlife as well as carbon sequestration.
Acreage Requirements: This would vary depending on the program. The focus is on smaller landowners.
Length of Contract: 5-40 years
Payment to Participants: This would vary depending on the program.
Requirements of Participants: This would vary depending on the program.
Application Process: The entire registration process is on line and there is no cost.
Verification Program Used: N/A
Last updated 10/24/23
Note: These programs are new and are undergoing rapid changes. If you plan to pursue any of the programs described above, their provisions may have changed significantly by the time you enroll. The Kentucky Woodland Owners Association has been following the progress of these programs for the benefit of members. We do not endorse any of these programs, and we suggest that you seek legal advice before participating in any of them. If you have any experience in dealing with forest carbon credits, we would love to hear from you. We can be reached at info@kwoa.net.