U.S. Forest Projects - October 20, 2011 | California Air Resources Board

U.S. Forest Projects - October 20, 2011

This page describes the ARB Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forest Projects adopted October 20, 2011 (2011 Forest Protocol) and all supporting documents for project implementation. Estimating volume and converting biomass to CO₂e vary by project location. Forest projects may be located anywhere in the lower 48 states. Forest land in Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories are not eligible at this time. Projects listed under the 2011 Forest Protocol located in California, Oregon, and Washington should refer to Table 1. Projects listed under the 2011 Forest Protocol located within the other 45 contiguous states should refer to Table 2.

Projects listed under the June 25, 2015 Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forest Projects should refer to that version's U.S. Forest Offset Projects webpage.

Projects listed under the November 14, 2014 Compliance Offset Protocol for U.S. Forest Projects (2014 Forest Protocol) should refer to that version's U.S. Forest Offset Projects webpage.

Skip to: Approved Growth and Yield Models

Skip to: Guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions

Skip to: Guidance for U.S. Forest Projects Transitioning from Early Action to Compliance

Skip to: Compliance Offset Program Forms to obtain forest offset project listing forms and forest Offset Project Data Report forms

Introduction

The Forest Protocol provides requirements and methods for quantifying the net climate benefits of activities that sequester carbon on forestland. The protocol provides offset project eligibility rules; methods to calculate an offset project’s net effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals of CO₂ from the atmosphere (removals); procedures for assessing the risk that carbon sequestered by a project may be reversed (i.e. released back to the atmosphere); and approaches for long-term project monitoring and reporting. The protocol is designed to ensure that the net GHG reductions and GHG removal enhancements caused by an offset project are accounted for in a complete, consistent, transparent, accurate, and conservative manner and may therefore be reported as the basis for issuing ARB or registry offset credits.

Offset Project Operators or Authorized Project Designees may use either the 2011 or 2014 Protocol for projects listed before midnight December 31, 2014 to quantify and report GHG reductions and GHG removal enhancements. For projects listed on or after January 1, 2015, Offset Project Operators or Authorized Project Designees must use the 2014 Forest Protocol to quantify and report GHG reductions and GHG removal enhancements.

The protocol provides eligibility rules, methods to quantify GHG reductions, project-monitoring instructions, and procedures for reporting Offset Project Data Reports. Additionally, all offset projects must submit to independent verification by ARB-accredited verification bodies. Requirements for verification bodies to verify Offset Project Data Reports are provided in the Cap-and-Trade Regulation.

ARB Video: "California's forest offset protocol" (CAFR5011--Yurok project)

ARB Video: "Forest offset project benefits tribes and state" (CAFR5028--Round Valley project)

U.S. Forest Protocol Resources

Compliance Offset Protocol U.S. Forest Projects (Forest Offset Protocol)

Table 1: Documents for Projects Located in California, Oregon, and Washington
	Description
Instructions	The Forest Protocol requires estimates of total above-ground and below-ground biomass. Offset Project Operators (OPOs)/Authorized Project Designees (APDs) with projects located in California, Oregon, and Washington should use these instructions to convert biomass to tons of CO₂e emissions or removal enhancements.
Supersection Maps: Entire U.S.A. Overview Northwestern U.S. Map Southwestern U.S. Map GIS Supersection Shapefiles (compressed zip file 9.08 MB)	Step 1: Supersection maps identify the appropriate Supersection and Assessment Area corresponding to the project’s location. An OPO/APD must first determine the geographic Supersection within which the Project Area is located by reviewing the Supersection maps. A GIS shapefile of the Supersection may be downloaded to map the project boundaries for reporting purposes.
Assessment Area Data File Assessment Area Data File	Step 2: After the OPO/APD identifies the correct Supersection for its Project Area, the OPO/APD must consult the Assessment Area Data File to identify the Assessment Area that best corresponds to the project, based on the dominant vegetation present in the "forest type" category within the spreadsheet. The Assessment Area Data File provides information that must be used as inputs to meet Protocol requirements. Click here for more details on the categories contained in the Assessment Area Data File.
Volume Estimation and Biomass Equations - Projects Located in California, Oregon, and Washington Volume Estimation for Species in Projects Located in CA, OR, WA (May 13, 2009 Biomass Equations for Species in Projects Located in CA, OR, WA (May 13, 2009)	Step 3a: The OPO/APD must find and use references and coefficients associated with each species in a Project Area for projects located in CA, OR, and WA. The volume equation references and coefficients in this document must be used in conjunction with the biomass equations provided for CA, OR, and WA (referenced in Step 3b). Step 3b: The OPO/APD must use the biomass equations presented in this document for projects located in CA, OR, and WA. Biomass equations have been obtained from the U.S. Forest Service FIA National Program. These biomass equations must be used in conjunction with the volume equation references and coefficients by species for projects located in CA, OR, and WA (referenced in Step 3a).
Estimating Carbon in Wood Products Regional Mill Efficiency Data Table C.1 - Specific Gravity and Wood Density by Forest Type for CA, OR, and WA (COP, page 94) "Wood Products Generated" worksheet within Assessment Area Data File	Step 4: For projects that include harvesting, the OPO/APD must estimate the carbon stored in harvested wood products. The following documents are needed to estimate carbon in harvested wood products: Step 4a: Regional Mill Efficiency Data The OPO/APD must identify the mill efficiency factor and use that factor as an input to estimate carbon in harvested wood delivered to mills. Step 4b: Table C.1 Specific Gravity and Wood Density by Forest Type for CA, OR, and WA The OPO/APD must check Table C.1 (duplicate of table on page 94 of the Protocol), which provides gravity and wood density factors by forest type. Once the forest type is identified, these factors are used as an input to help determine the carbon in harvested wood delivered to mills. Step 4c: Wood Product Classes The OPO/APD will need to estimate the average carbon stored over 100 years in in-use wood products. The OPO/APD may do this using the Supersection default values in the “Wood Products Generated” worksheet within the Assessment Area Data File or by obtaining a verified report from the mill(s) where the Project Area’s logs are sold indicating the product categories the mill(s) sold for the year in question.

Table 2: Documents for Projects Located Within the Other 45 Contiguous States (Outside California, Oregon, and Washington)
	Description
Instructions	The Forest Protocol requires estimates of total above-ground and below-ground biomass. Offset Project Operators (OPOs)/Authorized Project Designees (APDs) with projects located in all approved states except California, Oregon, and Washington (lower 45 states) should use these instructions to estimate volume and convert biomass to tons of CO₂e emissions or removal enhancements. The Protocol has approved specific volume and biomass equations developed by the United States Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) National Program using a procedure known as the Component Ratio Method (CRM) (Heath et al., 2009). The CRM is applicable to all states except California, Oregon, and Washington because regional equations have been adopted by ARB for those states.
Supersection Maps Overview Map of U.S.A. Southwest U.S. Northwest U.S. North Central U.S. Northeast U.S. Southeast U.S. GIS Supersection Shapefiles (compressed zip file 9.08 MB) Applicable to projects in all locations	Step 1: An OPO/APD must first determine the geographic Supersection within which the project area is located by reviewing the Supersection maps in this table. Supersection maps identify the appropriate Supersection and Assessment Area corresponding to the project’s location. A GIS shapefile of the Supersection may be downloaded to map the project boundaries for reporting purposes.
Assessment Area Data File Assessment Area Data File	Step 2: After the OPO/APD identifies the correct Supersection for its Project Area, the OPO/APD must consult the Assessment Area Data File to identify the Assessment Area that best corresponds to the project, based on the dominant vegetation present in the ‘forest type’ category within the document. The Assessment Area Data File provides information that must be used as inputs to meet Protocol requirements. Click here for more details on the categories contained in the Assessment Area Data File.
Volume Estimation and Biomass Equations - Projects Located Outside of California, Oregon, and Washington A. Cubic Foot Volume Equations for the U.S. Outside of CA-OR-WA B. Volume Equation References and Coefficients by Species for Supersections Outside of CA-OR-WA C. Biomass Estimation Component Ratio Method D. Biomass Coefficients for Use with Component Ratio Method	Step 3a: “A. Cubic Foot Volume Equations for the U.S. Outside CA-OR-WA” document This document provides volume equations for calculating cubic foot volume by species¹. The OPO/APD will need the accompanying “B. Volume Equation References and Coefficients by Species for Supersections Outside of CA-OR-WA” Excel spreadsheet to determine which equations to use and to retrieve the appropriate coefficients relevant to the species. Equations to calculate gross cubic foot volume (VOLCFGRS) are provided. VOLCFGRS must be converted to sound cubic foot volume (VOLCFSND) by subtracting rotten and missing cull volume. Biomass is then calculated for individual tree components for each tree using the Component Ratio Method, with DBH and VOLCFSND as inputs. The resulting VOLCFSND is then used to estimate biomass using the "C. Biomass Estimation Component Ratio Method" document. Step 3b: "B. Volume Equation References and Coefficients by Species for Supersections Outside of CA-OR-WA" document The document must be used to identify references and coefficients necessary to estimate volume for each species. The OPO/APD must use this Excel spreadsheet in conjunction with (Step 3a). Species are listed according to the corresponding Supersection. The look-up table of scientific references should be used to identify the appropriate volume equation and coefficients to estimate volume. Step 3c: "C. Biomass Estimation Component Ratio Method" document This document is an excerpt from the FIA Database User’s Manual² and should be used to calculate biomass for all projects outside California, Oregon, and Washington. It provides a nationally consistent method of estimating tree biomass, called the component ratio method (CRM)³. The CRM involves calculating the dry weight of individual components before estimating the total above-ground or below-ground biomass. The tables in this document describe the equations used to estimate various components of tree biomass (stem wood, top and branches, bark, stump, course roots). Most components are estimated through a series of ratio equations⁴. Document “D. Biomass Coefficients for Use with the Component Ratio Method” must be used in conjunction with the document in Step 3a. It provides the coefficients for common species that are necessary to estimate biomass using the Component Ratio Method.
Estimating Carbon in Wood Products Regional Mill Efficiency Data USFS Wood Handbook "Wood Products Generated" worksheet within Assessment Area Data File	Step 4: For projects that include harvesting, the OPO/APD must estimate the carbon stored in harvested wood products. The following documents are needed to estimate carbon in harvested wood products: Step 4a: Regional Mill Efficiency Data The OPO/APD must identify the mill efficiency factor and use that factor as an input to estimate carbon in harvested wood delivered to mills. Step 4b: USFS Wood Handbook This handbook provides gravity and wood density factors by forest type; these factors are used as input to determine the carbon in harvested wood delivered to mills. Step 4c: Wood Product Classes The OPO/APD will need to estimate the average carbon stored over 100 years in in-use wood products. The OPO/APD may do this using the Supersection default values in the “Wood Products Generated” worksheet within the Assessment Area Data File or by obtaining a verified report from the mill(s) where the Project Area’s logs are sold indicating the product categories the mill(s) sold for the year in question.

Footnotes
^[1] Cubic foot volume calculations are necessary for trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 5 inches. Trees with DBH less than 5 inches do not require cubic foot volume calculations to estimate biomass using the Component Ratio Method. Biomass for trees less than 5 inches in DBH is calculated using Appendix J with DBH only.
^[2] Appendix J. December 2009. Draft Forest Inventory Analysis Database and Users Manual for Phase 2, Version 4.0, Revision 2.
^[3] Heath et al. 2009.
^[4]Jenkins et al. 2003.

References

Bailey, R. G.; Avers, P. E.; King, T.; McNab, W. H., eds. 1994. Ecoregions and subregions of the United States (map). Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service. 1:7,500,000. With supplementary table of map unit descriptions, compiled and edited by W. H. McNab and R. G. Bailey.

Forest Inventory and Analysis. 2009. Appendix J. In: DRAFT FIA Database Description and Users Manual for Phase 2, version 4.0, revision 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Harmon, Mark E.; Woodall, Christopher W.; Fasth, Becky; Sexton, Jay; Yatkov, Misha. 2011. Differences between standing and downed dead tree wood density reduction factors: A comparison across decay classes and tree species. Res. Pap. NRS-15. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 40 p.

Heath, Linda S.; Hansen, Mark; Smith, James E.; Miles, Patrick D.; Smith, Brad W. 2009. Investigation into calculating tree biomass and carbon in the FIADB using a biomass expansion factor approach. In: McWilliams, Will; Moisen, Gretchen; Czaplewski, Ray, comps. 2009. 2008 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Symposium; October 21-23, 2008; Park City, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-56CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 26 p.

Jenkins, Jennifer C.; Chojnacky, David C.; Heath, Linda S.; Birdsey, Richard A. 2003. National scale biomass estimators for United States tree species. Forest Science. 49: 12-35.

McNab, W.H.; Cleland, D.T.; Freeouf, J.A.; Keys, Jr., J.E.; Nowacki, G.J.; Carpenter, C.A., comps. 2007. Description of ecological subregions: sections of the conterminous United States [CD-ROM]. Gen. Tech. Report WO-76B. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 80 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis National Core Field Guide (October 2010)

Woodall, Christopher W.; Heath, Linda S.; Domke, Grant M.; Nichols, Michael C. 2011. Methods and equations for estimating aboveground volume, biomass, and carbon for trees in the U.S. forest inventory, 2010. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-88. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 30 p.