Increase Carbon Storage
America’s family-owned forests are vital in combating climate change—and we’ve only just begun to unlock their potential.
Forests cover more than 750 million acres of land in the United States. They are our nation’s largest terrestrial “carbon sink,” continuously taking carbon out of the atmosphere and storing it in the trees.
However, although they occupy about one-third of U.S. land, forests currently balance only 15% of our country’s carbon emissions. Studies suggest this number could be nearly doubled through carbon-smart forest management.
An untapped opportunity in family-owned forests
Family forest owners (those who own between 20 and 1,000 acres of forestland) are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to fully utilizing our natural carbon sink.
This is because the majority of forests in the United States—39%—are owned by families and individuals. They care deeply about the health of their woods and the future of their land. And they want to play an active role in doing right by their trees.
The challenges
Despite their valuable experience, family forest owners are currently locked out and are often unable to realize the true potential of their land.
The majority of family forest owners struggle with technical expertise and high costs when it comes to optimizing their land for carbon sequestration.
What’s more, traditional forest carbon projects are designed in a way where costs for entry and long-term maintenance are far more than small landowners would ever receive in revenue—meaning the majority of U.S. forests are sidelined from being part of the climate mitigation solution.
Leveraging the power of carbon markets
Carbon markets put a dollar value on carbon, incentivizing efforts to reduce emissions in our atmosphere. In addition, they provide an opportunity for family forest owners to bring in additional income from their land which can help them cover the costs of forest management activities that sequester and store carbon. The funds can also drive economic stimulus to their local communities.
However, due to complexity, high upfront costs and contract lengths, less than 1% of current carbon projects are on acreages between 20 and 1,000 acres (the size range of family-owned forests). This means 39% of forestland in the United States is currently underutilized in the fight against climate change.
We are working to change this.
Learn more about the Family Forest Carbon Program, an innovative solution designed to help family forest owners tap into the power of carbon markets, and how your company can partner with us on climate.
Related Articles

March 21, 2023
AFF CEO: IPCC Report Showcases Need to Activate All Climate Solutions Now
“The IPCC’s report makes it alarmingly clear that we must activate all tools, including natural climate solutions, to fight climate change. In order to limit the risks within 1.5-degrees of global warming, governments, companies, and organizations must include forest-based solutions and leverage carbon markets that invest in the health and productivity of America’s forests."

March 10, 2023
EVENT: Investing in America’s Forests Through the Voluntary Carbon Market
Please join us on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 for Investing in America's Forests: Expanding Rural Access to the Voluntary Carbon Market, a virtual panel discussion that will explore pathways to increase investment in rural American communities through the voluntary carbon market.

March 10, 2023
VIDEO: Our Carbon Accounting Methodology Explained
Learn more about the Family Forest Carbon Program's carbon accounting methodology that improves accuracy and transparency — and ensures our program is having a real impact.