| First Name: | William |
|---|---|
| Last Name: | Stewart |
| Email Address: | billstewart@berkeley.edu |
| Affiliation | University of California, Berkeley |
| Subject | Empirical evidence suggest ARB IFM Forest Offset projects don't generate climate benefits |
| Comment |
Dear Chair Randolph, As a UC Cooperative Extension Specialist focusing on forest management of western forests during my career I have followed the development of the ARB Forest Offsets as well as studied and published on what actually happens with all types of managed forests and the harvested products. While IFM forest offset projects have moved millions of dollars to forest landowners to maintain the high inventory status quo of their land, the estimates of additional climate benefits from IFM are often overstated according to many well publicized investigative research projects by ProPublica, Bloomberg, and others as well as an increasing number of peer reviewed journal articles. This is especially true in the West where ARB pays for high inventories of forest biomass - also known as fuel for future wildfires. It is unquestionable that IFM projects have generated many environmental and environmental justice co-benefits, but revisions to the protocols to focus on reforestation projects, even if they do not have the large number of immediate offset credits, may be necessary if the ARB credits are to avoid being tagged as 'greenwashing'. William Stewart UC Cooperative Extension Specialist - Forestry (Emeriti) |
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Original File Name:
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2022-12-15 16:14:56 |
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