A Policy Context for Forests and Natural Climate Solutions

Abstract:

There is a spotlight on forests as a natural climate solution (NCS), in large measure due to the Trillion Trees challenge that emerged from the World Economic Forum and strengthened in the U.S. with Trillion Trees legislation and White House attention. Reforestation and afforestation are at the top of the list as an effective NCS at the desired scale. But to be effective and achieve desired carbon sequestration goals, active forest management must be part of the complex of activities. Different lands need different strategies – western forests that are under threat of wildfires, as well as insect and disease outbreaks, will need active reforestation combined with proactive fire suppression and creating resiliency across the landscape. Southeastern forests, with their long history of short rotation timber production, could readily add “growing carbon” as part of their purpose-grown tree planting or natural regeneration strategies.

Statutory and regulatory instruments are in place to enable the role of forests as a NCS. For Federal lands, the National Forest Management Act of 1976 has been amended to provide guidance to the Forest Service to include climate change response (adaptation and mitigation) in Forest Plans. Private land incentives exist through the USFS’s State and Private Forestry Program and through the Conservation title of the Farm Bill. The Forest Inventory and Analysis program of the US Forest Service provides the framework to monitor and track carbon gain, or loss. Mechanism to protect high conservation value forest include forest certification systems that are continuing to be adopted as companies look to ESG goals and outreach to non-industrial forest landowners promotes sustainable practices. State-monitored Best Management practices are another mechanism that ensures good forest practices.