What is Carbon Sequestration
Learn more about what it means to develop a carbon sequestration project and explore how carbon markets work.
Storing carbon in Alaska’s forests
Every tree and plant in Alaska’s forests absorbs carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, a natural process that removes carbon from the atmosphere and transforms it into biomass. The carbon from the atmosphere is stored in the trunks, branches, roots and leaves of trees, and even within the forest soil itself. When landowners conduct active land management, they can increase the amount of carbon that a forest removes from the atmosphere and stores, or sequesters.
Forests and the carbon market
The amount of carbon that a forest sequesters has an economic value on the global carbon market. Carbon markets allow organizations and individuals to cancel out, or offset, their carbon emissions by purchasing credits from projects that are certified to store carbon. One credit is produced for every ton of carbon that a project stores. Carbon markets are a practical solution for environmental protection because they provide financial incentives for carbon storage and removal in natural ecosystems. Nature-based carbon sequestration projects like those developed by Alaska Carbon Solutions allow landowners to certify that carbon is stored in their properties so that they can sell carbon credits and participate in the carbon market.
The power of forests
In just one year, the average mature tree will absorb over 48 pounds of carbon.
Nature-based carbon sequestration
There are many different ways to sequester carbon and produce carbon credits. Nature-based carbon sequestration projects include forest, grassland and wetland conservation and restorative agriculture. These projects not only produce carbon credits, but they also protect biodiversity and prevent habitat loss.
Nature-based carbon sequestration projects provide landowners with the ability to monetize their properties while conserving their land.
Forestry carbon sequestration
Today ACS is focused on long-term forestry carbon sequestration projects in Alaska. Our projects support healthy forest ecosystems through land management that includes clearing deadfall and remediating beetle kill. The properties can still be used for recreation as they produce carbon credits and generate income.
In some cases, landowners can also conduct carbon-sequestering economic activities (i.e., timber growth and harvest) to generate additional revenue from their lands.
