Current status of improved forest management carbon offset projects in the US voluntary market

The voluntary forest carbon market facilitates the purchase and trade of carbon credits from forest-based projects for emission offsetting. Improved forest management (IFM) carbon projects have gained considerable attention for their potential to boost net carbon stocks and lower greenhouse gas emissions by altering business-as-usual forest management practices. Despite the rapid expansion of IFM projects, a comprehensive analysis of their status in the voluntary market is lacking. This study examines registered IFM projects in the US by collecting data on these projects from three public carbon registries: American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, and Verra. Findings show that nearly 2 million acres of forestland have been enrolled across 24 states. More than half of these projects are located in the Northern region and are primarily managed by private companies. Although the issuance of credits by carbon registries has risen in recent years, credit retirement has decreased. These findings underscore the need to better understand the flow and impacts of credits from forest-based projects on emission offsetting.