February 25, 2025 – University of Alaska-Fairbanks with a hybrid/Zoom option
A preliminary Best Interest Finding for a forest carbon sequestration project on state lands is scheduled to be released by Alaska Department of Natural Resources for 30-day public review and comments by May/June 2025 for a potential finding and listing with a carbon registry.
Alaska SAF is sponsoring this one-day workshop with invited speakers on the science, management, and economics of carbon offset contracts. Presently there is a carbon offset project being proposed for the Tanana Valley State Forest in the boreal region. After individual presentations, panel discussions with speakers will take audience questions at the end of morning and afternoon sessions.
The workshop co-chairs are Chris Maisch and Tom Paragi, Yukon River Chapter, Alaska Society of American Foresters
8:30 a.m.: Welcome, room/meeting logistics, brief introduction of topic
Forest carbon parameters, dynamics, and inventory moderated by Co-chair Tom Paragi
8:40 a.m.: An Overview of Carbon Pools and Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems: Implications for Optimal Carbon Sequestration Strategies in Alaskan Forests – Eugenie Euskirchen, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
9:10 a.m.: Observed and forecasted climatic trends in Alaska – Uma Bhatt, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
9:40 a.m.: Disturbances and stressors affecting tree health and biomass increment – Nathan Lojewski, Chugachmiut and Alaska Board of Forestry, Anchorage
10:10 a.m.: Break
10:30 a.m.: Future trends in boreal forest biomass in the Tanana Valley – Shelby Sundquist. Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
11:00 AM: Forest carbon mensuration and modeling – Brian Kleinhenz, Terra Verde, Juneau
11:30 a.m.: Speaker panel for questions and discussion
Noon- 1 p.m. Lunch break on your own
Business parameters and risk mitigation in forest carbon contracts moderated by Co-chair Chris Maisch)
1:00 p.m.: Financial and legal factors in carbon markets – Spencer Plumb, Verra, Missoula, MT
1:30 p.m.: Protecting carbon and permafrost with fire management – Kayla Mathes and Peter Frumhoff, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Falmouth, MA
2:00 p.m.: Michigan DNR forest carbon offset projects – David Price, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Forest Resources Division, Lansing, MI
2:30 p.m.: Developing Best Management Practices under the Alaska Forest Practices Act through Science and Stakeholders – Marty Freeman, Alaska Division of Forestry, Anchorage, retired
3:00 p.m: Break
3:20 p.m.: Legal and policy framework for carbon offset projects on state land, key preliminary findings from the ongoing feasibility evaluation of for a potential carbon offset project in the Tanana Valley, and next steps in the project process, including a Best Interest Finding – Trevor Fulton, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of Project Management & Permitting, Anchorage, and Brian Kleinhenz
3:50 p.m.: Speaker panel for questions and discussion
4:35 p.m.: Brief review, next steps for improved understanding, further questions or discussion
5:00 p.m.: End of workshop
