Klawock Heenya Forestry Project

Carbon credits from this project are split into “removal credits”, that represent the carbon sequestered by new growth each year, and “conservation credits”, which represent avoided emissions from the avoided logging of the trees. We have purchased removal credits, as we believe these are of a higher quality, as they represent the actual carbon removal taking place from the forest.

From 1980 to 2005, nearly all of the commercially operable timber was harvested, narrowly preserving the areas of old growth. Since then, natural regeneration has resulted in thriving second growth forests, which is now managed to ensure long term sustainable governance of the forest.

Klawock Heenya Corporation Stewardship Plan states: “Klawock Heenya Corporation Commercial Forestlands have been intensively managed for commercial timber harvest. 13,418 acres of commercial timber stands have been harvested.” This is clear evidence that this land is suitable for harvesting, and the forest management practices could easily resemble that of other industrial forestland owners in the region.

This shows additionality as the forest protection exceeds common practice (harvesting) and the funds from the sale of the carbon offsets enable the land owners to reduce the need to harvest timber. The landowners will only undertake non-commercial pruning, if required, to promote understory growth as it serves as habitat for Sitka black-tailed deer, black bear, mountain goats and moose, among other wildlife species.