Is FFCP Right For You? Part 4: You Want to Know You're Getting a Good Deal
This blog post is part of a four-part series called, “Is the Family Forest Carbon Program Right for You?” Scroll to the bottom of this article for links to the others in this series.
We know that money probably isn't the top priority when it comes to your forest, but it’s still important. If you’re like most landowners, you probably want to know that whatever you implement is going to be financially possible for you and your family, and that you’re not making an outright poor financial decision.
In this article we’ll look at how the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) is designed to protect you from market risk while increasing the long-term value of your forest.
Our Mission: Putting Profits “Back into the Forest”
Unlike other forest carbon programs, FFCP is operated by a nonprofit, meaning we don’t have investors or shareholders seeking a return from the revenue generated by the sale of our carbon credits. Any profit above and beyond what it takes to operate the program goes toward achieving our mission—or put “back into the forest” as we like to say. You can have peace of mind knowing we are always looking for ways to offer higher payment rates, and better support you in caring for your land.
Steady Annual Payments, Without Market Risk
When you enroll in FFCP you receive guaranteed annual payments based on a regional payment rate. You can find our payment rates by downloading the practice overview document for your region from our How It Works page. You’ll receive that rate, multiplied by the number of acres you’ve enrolled, each year for 20 years.
Your rate already includes a projected increase in the value of carbon over the next 20 years, and unlike other programs, is not subject to fluctuations in the carbon market, meaning you are protected from any market risk while still benefitting from market growth.
When comparing forest carbon programs, it’s important to know that some programs guarantee payments for several years and then after that, payment is based on carbon sales. And, some programs pay you for 20 years but restrict your harvesting rights for 40 years, meaning you don't get paid for the full restriction period.
The price of carbon credits on the voluntary carbon market is influenced by many factors, including project type, location, and rigor of monitoring, verification and reporting. And, like any traded commodity, supply and demand. As a result, price of carbon credits is constantly changing. While we anticipate strong, continued growth in the carbon market, your guaranteed FFCP payments ensure you know how much you are getting paid each year for your 20-year term.
New Premium Partnership: 25% More in Landowner Payments
In addition to our standard payment rates, you can now earn more through our Premium Partnership! The Premium Partnership provides all the benefits of the Family Forest Carbon Program, while offering a total contract value that is 25% higher than our standard offer and expands your access to more opportunities, in return for completing additional compliance steps, like establishing a Farm Record for your woodland with the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
To learn more, check your eligibility and speak with a member of our team today!
Don’t Think Carbon vs. Timber... Think Carbon PLUS Timber
These annual payments are not designed to compete with harvesting revenue in the short-term. And frankly, we know you could probably make more by harvesting your timber now. Instead, our payments offer an incentive to practice good forestry in the long-term by providing steady, guaranteed income that you can use however you wish.
Having said that, one of the added benefits of practicing this type of forestry is that it improves the long-term value of your land and timber—meaning what you forego in short-term harvesting revenue, you will very likely make up for at the end of your 20-year contract term with FFCP (if you decide to harvest or sell your land after your enrollment period).
In fact, regardless of whether you participate in a carbon program, forestry best practices would be to follow the same guidelines as FFCP, because these practices will consistently produce the highest long-term land and timber value.
According to this study by Boston Consulting Group, projects like FFCP can increase your land value by $250 to $500 per acre over 20 years. When combined with sustainable timber harvesting, these practices can increase a forest’s value by up to 50% over 30 years.
Forest Management is Like Saving for Retirement
Just as it’s hard to save money for retirement because we have financial needs today, it’s also challenging to implement long-term forest management practices when we have other short-term needs that a heavy timber harvest could fulfill.
You can think of FFCP like a 401(k) for your forest—a tool that offers an incentive to stick to the management strategy that will give you the highest value in the long run.
Beyond Annual Payments: Looking at Your Total Contract Value
Understanding the total value of your FFCP contract—beyond the annual landowner payments—is an important step in deciding if FFCP is right for you. In addition to the increased land and timber value at the end of your 20-year contract, you’ll also want to factor in technical assistance from your forester, and the money you’ll save on developing or updating your forest management plan.
Beyond the cost-savings on the plan itself, many landowners who have done forest management with and without an FMP report that having one can help you avoid making costly mistakes down the road, and ensure you’re getting the most out of your land.
Ready to get started? Click here to check your eligibility for FFCP online today.
Check out the other posts in this series here:
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September 9, 2026
Is FFCP Right For You? Part 1: You Want to Work with People You Trust
The Family Forest Carbon Program is run by the American Forest Foundation (AFF), a trusted non-profit in forest conservation since 1932. In 2020, we partnered with the Nature Conservancy to launch FFCP, with the goal of giving small, private forest landowners access to the voluntary carbon market. The day-to-day operations of the program are run by AFF, and our team is made up of experts in forestry, finance, customer service, and fundraising, to name a few.
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Is FFCP Right For You? Part 2: You Need Forestry Guidance
Landowners often want to do what’s best for their land, but may not have the expertise, or resources to take action. In this article, we’ll explore how the Family Forest Carbon Program (FFCP) provides the technical support you need to care for your woodland—with a long-term plan to help you avoid overwhelm and stay on track.
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Is FFCP Right For You? Part 3: You're Concerned About Greenwashing
This idea of “greenwashing’ is a real concern, and one we share as individuals who care deeply about the earth and America’s forests. In this article we’ll look at how we know we are selling real, high-quality, verified carbon credits and how carbon markets—while not a perfect solution to climate change—allow us to do more with fewer resources.