Federal offset protocol: Improved forest management on private land
Forests have a large capacity to sequester carbon by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and converting it into biomass through photosynthesis. This carbon is stored in the forest as live biomass as well as dead organic matter and forest soil.
The Improved Forest Management on Private Land federal offset protocol creates an incentive for forestland owners and project proponents to carry out forest management activities that go beyond their business-as-usual management practices to increase the carbon stored within managed forests. These activities will generate greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and removals for which federal offset credits may be issued under the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations. Examples of activities include reducing harvest, thinning, increasing rotation ages, and reducing competing brush.
The protocol is applicable to projects on private land and land where Indigenous people have exclusive use and occupation. It is not applicable to projects on provincial or federal Crown lands (except First Nation reserves) and public lands in the territories.
The protocol was developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada with input from a team of external technical experts, including those with expertise in forest offset project development and implementation, GHG quantification, verification, offset protocol development, and relevant academic research, as well as from experts in the Government of Canada, provinces and territories.
Indigenous people were engaged on the development of the protocol. A Protocol Focus Group (PFG) composed of participants with experience and knowledge regarding Indigenous-led offset projects, forestry or community interests was formed to gather perspectives on the protocol.
Access the protocol
Improved forest management on private land, version 1.1
Other resources
Protocol overview
Federal offset protocol overview: Improved forest management on private land
Webinar presentation
- Overview of the Improved Forest Management on Private Land federal offset protocol (May 2024).
To receive a copy of the presentation, please send us an email at: creditscompensatoires-offsets@ec.gc.ca.
Guidance document
Project registration application templates
- For an individual project:
- Project registration application template for projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
- Reversal risk management plan template for projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
- For an aggregation of projects:
- Registration application template for an aggregation of projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land protocol Version 1.1 (Word document component)
- Individual project registration application template projects included in an aggregation of projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1 (Excel document component)
- Reversal risk management plan template for an aggregation of projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
Project report templates
- Project report template for projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
- Monitoring report template for projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
- Mandatory data worksheet for projects using the Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Private Land Protocol Version 1.1
Verification report templates
- Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System Verification Report Template
- Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System Verification Report Annex Template
Please note that Verification Report templates for verification of project reports under Canada’s GHG Offset Credit System differ from those used under the Output-Based Pricing System.
To receive the templates applicable to your project, contact the GHG Offset Credit System Operations Office at: CreditsCompensatoiresSCSC-OffsetsCATS@ec.gc.ca