Participating Forest Owner Responsibilities

The participating forest owner must integrate the sequestering of carbon into their forest management plan; planned harvests and/or removals shall not exceed annual growth. In the event that a harvest does exceed growth, the landowner is responsible for purchasing sufficient Carbon Credits to make up the difference. Additionally, timber sales contracts need to include a stipulation retaining ownership of the sequestered carbon.

The forest owner must maintain the commitment to remain certified for 15 years from the date of enrollment. The forest must be sustainably managed and certified by an independent third party such as the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certifications (PEFC), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Participating forest owners must provide Woodlands Carbon with an annual accounting of all removals, timber harvests, firewood cuttings, and give immediate notification of extensive mortality as a result of insect, disease, blowdown, fire, or other catastrophic natural event.

Participating forest owners must provide access to their property for the purpose of a compliance audit. Audits are an infrequent but integral method of verifying participants and program standards. Any applicant owning or having an interest in a manufacturing facility or similar business, must disclose any significant emissions sources from those sources.