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Overview

Within the past several decades concern over environmental issues has increased considerably.  Possible climate change effects due to significant rises of greenhouse gas levels in the earth’s atmosphere are some of the major concerns.  Tropical deforestation and the consumption of fossil fuels are primarily responsible for the accumulation of greenhouse gases, in particular carbon dioxide (CO₂).  Because of the difficulty in reducing fossil fuel consumption and deforestation of the tropics, sequestering or storing carbon in soils and land plants has been developed as an alternative means to reduce or offset greenhouse gas emissions.  Carbon sequestration has now emerged as an opportunity for landowners to gain financial rewards by practicing sustainable agriculture and forest management and marketing their net annual carbon stock.

Carbon Sequestration: How does it work?

Terrestrial ecosystems will naturally uptake atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.  Some of the carbon is eventually stored in a stable “carbon pool” such as soil or plant tissue, i.e. wood.  The net increase of carbon in a pool over one year, sometimes referred to as net positive flux, can be quantified and represents the net annual carbon stock produced.

Carbon Offset Projects: Who’s eligible?

There are rules and guidelines to producing and marketing carbon stocks or credits depending on which registry or trading platform the project is enrolled in.  The CCX is North America’s only, and the world’s first, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission registry, reduction and trading system for all six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride).  The CCX is a self-regulatory, rules-based exchange in which its participating members make voluntary and legally binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gases.

 The CCX currently accepts a range of offset projects including:

1. No-till croplands

2. Grasslands seeded since 1999 (e.g. CRP plantings)

3. Trees planted or naturally regenerated (both rural and urban forests) since 1990
               CRP tree plantings
                  Non-CRP tree plantings
               Use this table to determine what your carbon stock is worth from planting trees (TABLE)

4. Sustainable Forest Management

(Click on each project type to complete an enrollment form.  After we review your enrollment form, we will contact you regarding its eligibility status and discuss contract options.  This enrollment form is not a contract.)

This year only (2007), the CCX is allowing producers to register back credits for tree planting projects from '03, '04, '05, and '06.

Carbon payments do not disqualify producers from any government payment programs, e.g. CRP, EQIP, WHIP, etc.

Once a project is registered with the CCX and a carbon offset contract is in place, sequestration is quantified each year.  Carbon credits are banked together by a CCX approved aggregator and trader and submitted to the CCX.  The credits are registered and then traded.  Landowners receive their payment annually after transaction fees are discounted.  The CCX also holds 20% of each year’s credits in escrow which the landowner can sell at the end of the contract period.  The reserve is held in the event a net annual negative flux occurs and for contract compliance.

How can Clearwater Forest Consultants help?

Clearwater Forest Consultants, LLC is NOT a CCX approved aggregator or verifier. 

We are a forestry consulting firm that specializes in the management and marketing of forest and natural resources. 

We assist landowners and other organizations analyze and review the technical and financial aspects of their carbon stock assets. 

We provide carbon offset project development services which prepare, enroll and guide the marketing of small, medium and large scale CCX carbon offset projects.

Clearwater Forest Consultants, LLC
....so you get more from your forest and wild lands.
PO Box 176, Piedmont, MO 63957
mail@clearwaterforestconsultants.com
573 223-7010