The Western United States is experiencing one of the worst wildfire years on record. In California alone, more than 4 million acres have burned.

As global emissions continue to rise and the risks associated with climate change continue to intensify, the answer to reducing forest fires and the other negative environmental impacts from climate change could in fact lie within the forests themselves.    

According to The Nature Conservancy (TNC), forests are the natural climate solution with the greatest potential to address climate change—and do so cost-effectively. Natural climate solutions (NCS) include conservation, restoration and improved land management actions that increase carbon storage or avoid greenhouse gas emissions in landscapes and wetlands across the globe. Because of the rising threat of climate change, it is essential that we develop and deploy strategies that combine effective climate mitigation with sustainable forest management. 

Of all the forestland in the U.S., 36% is privately owned which is equal to 290 million acres. Due to barriers, such as high costs, it is very difficult for these landowners to engage in today’s carbon market. We cannot maximize the carbon sequestration potential of our nation’s forestlands in the fight against climate change without including this significant portion of America’s forests.

The Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP), created in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, is working to maximize this potential by providing opportunities for individual and family forest landowners to engage in today’s carbon markets.  

By providing incentives for landowners to implement science-based sustainable forestry practices, this program is working to increase the potential of privately-owned forestlands to capture and sequester carbon. The FFCP addresses the barriers landowners face by connecting family forest owners with trusted carbon market information, supporting skill development to do carbon-positive forest management practices, and payment for consistent implementation of these practices in their forests.

The FFCP is one of the only tools available today that provides the means and the methods to increase forest resiliency and combat climate change at the same time. In addition to fighting climate change, the program also provides economic benefits to rural communities that need assistance, improves air and water quality, and protects and preserves wildlife habitat.

For more information about the FFCP including information about how it works, where it is being implemented, and how to participate visit https://www.forestfoundation.org/family-forest-carbon-program.