ACR, a nonprofit enterprise of Winrock International, has approved version 2.1 of its Methodology for the Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions and Removals for Improved Forest Management (IFM) on Non-Federal U.S. Forestlands. IFM version 2.1 is immediately applicable to all new project listings.
The IFM methodology quantifies the carbon sequestration benefits of forests, providing a carbon finance incentive for landowners to achieve a higher standard of sustainable forest management by forgoing intensive harvesting or selling off timberlands. IFM offers an immediate, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to mitigate climate change now, as the economy transitions toward net-zero by mid-century.
The ACR IFM methodology is applicable to a variety of landowner types, including private industrial, private non-industrial, tribal, public non-federal, and non-governmental organizations.
Emissions reductions are quantified when projects exceed baseline forest management, and removals are quantified for retention of annual forest growth. The primary carbon sequestration mechanism is the commitment to grow trees longer and increase forest stocking.
Key updates in version 2.1 include the following:
- A new tool for evaluating baselines each reporting period, before carbon credits are issued, to ensure the underlying assumptions remain valid over time.
- A new baseline constraint, “Harvest Intensity,” that sets maximum baseline harvest levels based on one of three options: using a new tool for recently observed harvests on comparable properties, a qualified forest management plan, or a conservative removals-only baseline.
- Greater specificity in existing requirements for baseline development related to the evaluation of legality, site accessibility and operability, regional timber market capacity, third-party approval (such as for lands with easements that may require approval from the easement holder for plans) and silvicultural practices.
ACR Aggregation and Programmatic Development Approach guidance for Improved Forest Management is available for projects wishing to aggregate multiple landowners into a single project at project start, or over time.
