Emerging Issue: Capturing Carbon in Your Community: New Reporting Protocols for Tree Planting Projects

Article courtesy of E. Gregory McPherson, Ph.D., Center for Urban Forest Research, Pacific Southwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Davis, CA, egmcpherson@ucdavis.edu

Planting and stewarding trees is one of the best ways to capture and store carbon for climate protection, while at the same time enhancing quality of life where we live, work, and play. Over the course of its life, a tree can store 10,000 lb of carbon dioxide (CO2), or 4.5 metric tons (t) (McPherson and Simpson 1999). Also, if planted strategically, a city tree will lower energy use and thereby reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at the power plant. In hotter climates, like California’s Central Valley, the GHG benefits from energy conservation can exceed those of carbon storage.

The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) requires a reduction in GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This amounts to a reduction of 173 Mt (million tons) from the predicted level in 2020. Our initial research suggests that planting lots of trees in California communities can make a difference when it comes to fighting climate change. Using aerial photography, we found 242 million empty tree planting sites in California cities (McPherson and Simpson 2003). If 50 million trees were planted, they would sequester about 4.5 Mt CO2 (million tons) annually. If they were planted strategically to shade east and west walls of residential buildings, they would reduce air conditioning energy use by 6,408 GWh, equivalent to an average annual CO2 equivalent emission reduction of 1.8 Mt. The estimated total CO2 reduction of 6.3 Mt annually is 3.6% of the 173 Mt statewide goal.

Given that urban forestry can be a win-win investment, a stakeholder-driven process has developed a credible but simple approach for accounting and reporting GHG benefits from urban tree planting projects to the California Climate Action Registry. Reporting carbon reductions to the Registry guarantees their credibility and accuracy in the eyes of regulators and investors. Although originally designed for California users, the Urban Forest Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocol (UFP) can be readily transferable to other states and countries.

Underpinning the UFP is new science quantifying effects of urban forests on GHGs. A new technology, the Center for Urban Forest Research’s Tree Carbon Calculator (CTCC) is a companion to the UFP that translates research into a useful tool. The Excel spreadsheet provides numerical data on carbon storage, energy savings, and biomass volumes for common tree species in California cities. Together, the UFP and CTCC will put a wealth of science-based information at your fingertips.

The UFP provides a reporting process for GHG tree projects that will permanently increase carbon storage. GHG emissions released by motor vehicles and equipment used to maintain project trees are also reported. In addition to GHG benefits related to carbon storage, project developers are encouraged to report a project’s GHG emission reductions related to energy conservation and use of tree residue as feedstock for biopower plants. Guidance for reporting carbon stored in wood products is under development. Some key aspects of the UFP follow.

- The UFP is aimed at three users: cities, utilities, and college campuses
- A 100-year project reporting period guarantees the long-term existence of carbon storage gains from urban forestry projects
- Planting at least 1,000 project tree sites is recommended
- All project tree sites must be inventoried at least once every ten years
- Procedures are presented to track changes in the levels of care and spending for existing (nonproject) trees
- One goal of the UFP is to ensure that entities are sustaining their existing carbon stocks before engaging in new GHG tree projects
- If the actual amount of carbon stored by project trees differs from the forecast by more than 10%, the forecast must be reviewed and updated as necessary
- An initial project report is required that includes a description of existing tree resources, a project description, maintenance plan, a baseline, and a forecast of future carbon storage and other GHG benefits from project trees for the 100-year period.
- Once a GHG tree project is underway an annual monitoring report is required that includes documentation of compliance with expected levels of service for tree maintenance, quantification of the CO2 stored and released via tree care activities for that year, any significant (≥ 10%) differences between the actual CO2 and the projected level, quantification of other GHG benefits (optional), and a description of monitoring techniques.
- Initial and annual monitoring reports are reviewed by an independent verifier hired by the project developer.

To obtain a complete copy of the draft UFP and learn more about the Registry, visit their website at http://www.climateregistry.org/tools/protocols/project-protocols.html

Currently, reporting activities that generate emission reductions is voluntary and there is a substantial demand for quality GHG emission reduction credits. Many organizations and individuals look to the voluntary carbon market for the purchase of GHG emission reduction credits that they can use to offset their GHG emissions and, in some cases, to demonstrate carbon neutrality. Once adopted by the Registry, the UFP sets the stage for significant investment in large-scale tree planting projects. New investments in our community forests have the potential to transform how our cities look, feel, and function. To make that potential a reality will require new knowledge, improved practices, and stronger partnerships.

Acknowledgements

This project was made possible by generous support from CalFire. I am deeply indebted to the technical assistance provided by Steering Committee members from the Registry, Pacific Forest Trust, EcoSecurities, Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, TreePeople, California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, CalFire, Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture, and U.S. Forest Service, as well as expertise supplied by a score of other committee members.

References

McPherson, E.G.; Simpson, J.R. 1999. Carbon Dioxide Reductions Through Urban Forestry: Guidelines for Professional and Volunteer Tree Planters (General Technical Report PSW-171). Albany, CA: USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station; 237 p.
McPherson, E.G.; Simpson, J.R. 2003. Potential energy savings in buildings by an urban tree planting programme in California. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2: 73-86.