Garcia River Forest: Sustainable Forestry and Climate Change

In 2004, when we purchased the Garcia River Forest—a 24,000-acre expanse of redwood and Douglas fir forests along the Garcia River and several tributaries—we created California’s first large nonprofit-owned working forest. In February 2008 Garcia became one of the first forests—and the largest—to receive verification as a source of greenhouse gas reductions under the protocols of the Climate Action Reserve. This certification recognizes forests’ new role in environmental protection. These towering stands of trees are not just housing wildlife and beckoning travelers—they are also trapping carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change.

“With credible measurement systems and sustainable management techniques forests are positioned to play an increasingly vital role in the challenge of curbing climate change."

- —Mary Nichols, Chair, California Air Resources Board

Summary

Garcia River Forest comprises one-third of the watershed of Garcia River and contains a magnificent expanse of redwoods and Douglas firs. The redwood forest type that dominates Garcia River is remarkably resilient and productive: Redwood trees sprout from stumps, there are few pests or diseases and the forest can produce lumber that is uniquely beautiful, durable and valuable. Garcia River is recognized by the California Department of Fish and Game as a high priority for protection and recovery of the state—and federal—listed coho salmon and steelhead trout. The property also supports Northern spotted owl and numerous other rare plants and animals.

Redwood forests store more carbon per acre than any other forest type. Sustainable forest management of Garcia River enables the storage of more than 77,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.

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Challenge

Like most large timbered properties, Garcia River Forest was owned by a succession of timber companies. This history of intensive industrial timber management left a legacy of depleted inventories of merchantable timber, a network of fragile roads on steep slopes of eroding soils and miles of spawning habitat for salmon and steelhead clogged with sediment.

Our challenge was to help protect the forest from conversion to vineyards or second-home development, rebuild commercial timber inventories that would support the local economy, and at the same time, help repay loans taken to acquire in the property, upgrade roads and restore stream conditions for rare and threatened species.

Solution

In 2004 we led a partnership with the California Coastal Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy and Wildlife Conservation Board to purchase the Garcia River Forest from Coastal Forestlands Ltd. by leveraging creative conservation capital including low interest loans, state grants and private philanthropic donations.

Results

Since we purchased Garcia River Forest in 2004, which established it as the first large nonprofit-owned working forest in California, we have sustainably managed it as a working forest. The Nature Conservancy owns a conservation easement on the property, ensuring protection, regardless of ownership, that makes carbon offset verification possible. Conservancy scientists helped develop the forest’s management plan and conduct forest-carbon research and monitor biodiversity conservation on the property. Keeping the land in production will generate revenue to support ongoing forest and stream restoration work and preserve jobs within the community.

In 2007 the California Air Resources Board formally adopted the rigorous California Climate Action Registry protocols for forestry, thus establishing a clear role for forestry in the state’s climate policy and adding economic value to forest carbon projects.

In February 2008, the Garcia River Forest became one of the first forests—and the largest—to receive verification of its carbon offsets under the protocols of the Climate Action Reserve. It now provides some of the most reliable and valid carbon credits in the country to private companies and public organizations seeking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. We are negotiating several major purchases of verifiable carbon credits to buyers interested in offsetting their manufacturing and business practices or banking the credits for regulated markets.

In addition to fighting climate change, these forests will continue to protect water quality, restore wildlife habitat and enhance opportunities for public recreation for current and future generations.