Carbon Management in British Columbia’s Forests: An Update on Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

Forest carbon management is rapidly evolving in British Columbia. The province is perhaps the most active jurisdiction on this front in Canada as it seeks to meet the requirements of its new suite of greenhouse gas legislation, regulations, and policies that influence the management of forest carbon.

This report provides an update since 2008 on British Columbia's position on managing for greenhouse gas emissions, with a focus on the role of forests. Essentially, it is an update of Carbon Management in British Columbia's Forests: Opportunities and Challenges, published as FORREX Series No. 24 (Greig and Bull 2008).

This report includes

• a summary of legislative changes since late 2007;
• a review of the evolving institutional and market rules needed for the further development of a carbon offset market, which would include forests;
• some recent advances in forest carbon management in the province; and
• important opportunities and challenges that lay ahead.

Forest carbon management policy and practices will continue to evolve. Forest carbon is now a recognized forest value, at both the carbon offset project level and the sustainable forest management landscape level. Although many pieces of forest carbon management are in place, more work is required to realize the full potential. It is clear that British Columbia's vast forests represent a significant opportunity to manage greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.