Tapping into U.S. Forests to Mitigate Climate Change: A Policy Solutions Toolkit

Tapping into U.S. Forests to Mitigate Climate Change: A Policy Solutions Toolkit

Author: Forest-Climate Working Group

Summary:

The Forest-Climate Working Group’s (FCWG) approach to state and local policy solutions is designed to be flexible and tailored for each state’s unique context. The FCWG encourages state and local governments to consider a wide range of tools to deliver financial incentives for forest sector carbon mitigation, including offsets, cost-share payments, grants, and tax incentives. The group also recommends consideration of state actions that go beyond financial stimuli, such as adjusting public land management, land use regulations, promotion of harvested wood products, and educating landowners and land managers about climate change. The Forest-Climate Working Group stands ready to work with interested states and other units of government to help evaluate and potentially adopt the approaches described in the toolkit.