East Texas forest landowners may now have the opportunity to participate in a carbon off-set project and sell credits for sequestering carbon on the open market. Under a pilot project involving Chicago Climate Exchange, AgraGate, and local aggregator(s), forest landowners that meet certain conditions can receive a payment for carbon stored since 2003, as well as annual payments through 2010.

Forest landowners that meet the following criteria should consider participating:

• Planted pine on open land since Jan 1, 1990
• Have a minimum of 250 pine trees per acre
• Are willing to commit to maintaining 250 pine trees per acre
• Do not plan to harvest or thin trees until 2011
• Understand that some or all income may have to be paid back in case of a disaster event or a rule change/clarification
• Are willing to accept shortcomings of a pilot program

To sign up, a landowner may contact an aggregator. Currently, AgraGate and the Nacogdoches-based Carbon Group are aggregators known to be operating in Texas. There may be others that a landowner may wish to contact. Landowners should read the contract carefully before signing and understand that this is a pilot project with no historical track record. Landowners must also have the quantity of carbon stored in their forest stand verified. TFS Verifier for Forestry Offset Projects by the CCX

Learn more about ecosystem services and carbon credits for landowners.

This carbon project is not a Texas Forest Service program and Texas Forest Service is not responsible for project details.