ACR has opened a 30-day public comment period for a newly developed Framework for Remotely Sensed Quantification of Forest Carbon, ending on June 20, 2025.
This framework aims to create a pathway for the integration of remotely sensed measurements into forest carbon projects under a variety of ACR methodologies (Afforestation and Reforestation, Active Conservation and Sustainable Management, Improved Forest Management on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands, and Improved Forest Management on Canadian Forestlands).
This public comment draft contains a process for Project Developers and third-party Verification Bodies to validate the eligibility and use of predictive carbon estimation models developed from a variety of remotely sensed data types.
ACR appreciates your careful review and thoughtful input, which is an important part of our mission to create confidence in the integrity of carbon markets. Thank you.
Please submit comments to ACR@winrock.org by June 20, 2025.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS REMOTE SENSING IN FORESTRY?
Remote sensing is the process of remotely collecting data on the physical attributes of a forest area, often in the form of optical, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, typically from a satellite, aircraft or even ground-based devices.
WHY IS ACR ADVANCING AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH USING REMOTE SENSING?
Remote sensing technology has potential to scale forest carbon markets, but systematic approaches are still needed to test and confirm its rigor and accuracy. Combining field and remotely sensed measurements can help to test, scale and expedite the development of forest carbon projects. ACR believes the use of remotely sensed data in appropriate situations can make the forest carbon quantification process more efficient.
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASED EFFICIENCY DOES REMOTE SENSING OFFER?
Remote sensing offers an opportunity to regularly collect forest carbon data across a large geographic area more efficiently than traditional inventory field plots employed across the same area. ACR still requires field plots for all forest carbon projects, but remote sensing offers an important tool for lessening the necessary number of field plots and reducing costs for monitoring, reporting and verification of forest carbon.
HOW WILL REMOTE SENSING MAINTAIN THE RIGOR OF ACR’S QUANTIFICATION APPROACH?
Remote sensing offers an additional way to quantify forest carbon, as ACR will still maintain its requirements for the use of field plots and statistical confidence thresholds. Because the new framework is supplemental to the existing requirements, the rigor of ACR’s quantification approach is maintained.
WHAT PROCESS HAS ACR FOLLOWED TO DEVELOP THIS FRAMEWORK?
ACR has consulted with industry and academic remote sensing experts to develop a framework informed by our experience in forest carbon projects. Through multiple rounds of engagement with experts, we drafted this public comment version to seek feedback from the larger carbon market community.
WHICH ACR METHODOLOGIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO USE REMOTELY SENSED FOREST CARBON?
ACR forest carbon methodologies will be eligible to use remotely sensed forest carbon quantification, including Improved Forest Management on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands, Improved Forest Management on Canadian Forestlands, Active Conservation and Sustainable Management on U.S. Forestlands, and Afforestation and Reforestation of Degraded Lands.