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Check out the number on this certificate!
As carbon credits are in the news so much these days, it seems like a good time to toot some horns about the new local carbon offset program called NW Neutral.
NW Neutral is a program of one of our community partners, the Northwest Natural Resource Group. It pairs local private forestland owners interested in using their forests for carbon sequestration with buyers interested in offsetting their carbon emissions.
CO2 emissions are widely believed to contribute to global climate change – and forests have a big effect on levels of CO2. Forests in the U.S. currently capture about 10% of total CO2 emissions nationally but the loss of forestland accounts for approximately 25% of the worlds’ annual increase of carbon dioxide. From these numbers it is clear that investing in standing forests will be key to combatting rising CO2 levels.
The advantage to a local program like NW Neutral is that buying credits from local landowners keeps the benefits of standing forests (better air quality, better water quality and functional ecosystems) in the neighborhood! That’s why, in March, Ecohaus became their first customer. Now the CO2 that we emit through the process of distributing floor finish, delivering countertops, or keeping our showroom warm in the winter gets balanced by our investment in trees standing right here in the Pacific Northwest!
NNRG’s new program was formally announced at a celebration at Ecohaus on March 12th. Washington State’s new Public Lands Commissioner, Peter Goldmark, was present to make the announcement. “Carbon offsets could create a new market for small forest landowners that would keep working forests working,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark. “In these challenging economic times, we must innovate ways we can simultaneously fight climate change and protect forestlands from conversion.”
For over 15 years Northwest Natural Resource Group (NNRG) has been leading efforts to make ecological forestry a paying proposition in the Pacific Northwest. Their Northwest Certified Forestry program uses protocols designed by the Forest Stewardship Council (www.fscus.org) to provide a broad suite of economic, educational and informational benefits to small forest landowners in Washington and Oregon. More info at www.nnrg.org.
Commissioner Goldmark announced the new program.
NNRG and Ecohaus Representatives with Commissioner Goldmark and the first Carbon Offset Certficate through NW Neutral.
> the CO2 that we emit …
> gets balanced by our investment in trees
Do you get to know the actual person and property where your money goes?
Do the numbers involved change over time, or is it a one-time transaction?
What do you say to other businesses that might be interested?
What would you say to someone who owns timberland who could be on the other side of such a transaction by investing in improving the property?
Does it count timber, topsoil, wildlife?
Hi Hank,
Please see our responses below!
“Do you get to know the actual person and property where your money goes?”
We have indeed met some of the forestland owners who are storing our carbon credits. They’re very nice people!
“Do the numbers involved change over time, or is it a one-time transaction?”
We are pretty sure that it depends on how you would like to do it – you basically just purchase carbon credits as you decide you’d like to offset your carbon emissions – but best check with them – http://www.nwneutral.org.
“What do you say to other businesses that might be interested?”
We say GREAT!!! To contact NW Neutral for more info or to purchase carbon credits visit http://www.nwneutral.org
“What would you say to someone who owns timberland who could be on the other side of such a transaction by investing in improving the property?
We would say GREAT!!! To contact NW Neutral for more info or to store carbon credits on your forestland visit http://www.nwneutral.org
“Does it count timber, topsoil, wildlife?”
The forests in this program are certified to be responsibly managed through NNRG’s NCF FSC certification program. They definitely take timber and other biomass into account – not sure about topsoil though! Best to ask them at http://www.nwneutral.org.
Finally, a credible carbon offset program where you know where the money goes and connects the rural and business communities. Bravo, NNRG!
[...] footprint by providing local materials as much as possible, and by offsetting our carbon output by purchasing carbon credits in local forests through the Northwest Natural Resource [...]