Draft Federal Offset Protocol: Improved Forest Management on Private Land

Forest ecosystems have a large capacity to sequester and store carbon by converting atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) into biomass through photosynthesis. This carbon is stored in the forest as living biomass as well as dead organic matter and forest soil. The implementation of improved forest management can maintain and increase the amount of carbon stored by managed forests by reducing the amount of carbon lost from the forest and increasing carbon sequestration in the forest biomass and soils.

The Improved Forest Management on Private Land federal offset protocol will be for use by a proponent undertaking a project to implement forest management activities on managed forestlands that go beyond a business-as-usual management scenario to generate federal offset credits under the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations. The proponent must follow the methodology and requirements set out in the protocol, including to quantify and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and removals (GHG reductions) generated by implementing forest management activities that maintain or increase carbon stored within the project site.

GHG reductions generated by a project under this protocol can only result from the implementation of improved forest management. GHG reductions under this protocol cannot be generated from afforestation/reforestation or avoided conversion of forestlands. The protocol is not applicable to projects on provincial or federal Crown lands (excluding First Nation reserves) and public lands in the territories, or lands captured by provincial and/or territorial forest management regulations.

Environment and Climate Change Canada published a draft Improved Forest Management on Private Land federal offset protocol for public comments. The public comment period closed on September 8, 2023. Public input on the draft protocol will help to inform the preparation of the final protocol.