Climate Change > Forestry & Agriculture

Forestry & Agriculture in a Carbon Market

ESSHB 2815 Section 4(3)(g) directed the Department of Ecology and the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development to develop recommendations in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture with the Climate Advisory Team, the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington, Washington State University, and a nonprofit consortium involved in research on renewable industrial materials regarding how forestry and agricultural lands and practices may participate voluntarily as an offset or other credit program in the regional multi-sector market-based system.

The recommendations must ensure that the baseline for this offset or credit program does not disadvantage Washington in relation to another state or states, and shall address:

• Commercial and other working forests, including accounting for site-class specific forest management practices;
• Agricultural and forest products, including accounting for substitution of wood for fossil intensive substitutes;
• Agricultural land and practices;
• Forest and agricultural lands set aside or managed for conservation as of, or after, the effective date of this section; and
• Reforestation and afforestation projects.

Working Groups

Two workgroups have been convened to provide a forum for stakeholders and government representatives to develop recommendations regarding how the forestry and agricultural sectors in Washington may participate voluntarily to help Washington State meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

• Forestry Sector Working Group
• Agricultural Sector Working Group