Page 24 - Georgia Forestry - Issue 4 - Fall 2024

CARBON SEQUESTRATION
this challenge in his Red River corridor project by offering shorter-term, more flexible contracts that allow landowners to participate in carbon markets without committing to decades-long agreements.
“We quickly realized that we couldn’t achieve the scale we wanted with restric- tive contract terms,” said Thomas.
Instead, his project offers five-year rolling contracts that continually renew, allowing landowners to remain in con- trol of their land while generating revenue through carbon credits. This flexibility has made the project more appealing to landowners, many of whom were initially hesitant to participate due to concerns about long-term commitments.
HABITAT RESTORATION
Stacking Co-Benefits:
The Future of
Forest Incentives
Both Smalligan and Thomas believe that the future of forest land management lies in stacking co-benefits. By managing forests for multiple ecosystem services — such as carbon sequestration, water quality improvement and habitat res- toration — landowners can unlock new sources of revenue while contributing to broader environmental goals.
As Smalligan pointed out, the current price of carbon alone may not be enough to incentivize widespread changes in forest management.
UNLOCKING
REVENUE & ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
“By quantifying co-benefits like water quality, landowners may be able to com- mand higher prices for their carbon credits,” said Smalligan.
This approach not only benefits land- owners but also attracts investment from corporations and other entities looking to improve their environmental footprint.
Thomas echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of aligning corporate investment with regional con- servation goals.
“There’s a huge opportunity here,” said Thomas. “By stacking benefits like carbon credits and water quality improvements, we can attract corporate partners who are willing to invest in conservation at a local level.”
WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
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