By transforming forest management in north central Minnesota, this project enhances the health of nearly 175,000 acres of working forest while supporting the local forest products industry and associated livelihoods. Along with increasing forest carbon stocks, this project safeguards the ecosystem services that the forest provides like clean water, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.

When Europeans first arrived in the Americas, about two-thirds of the area that is now Minnesota was covered by forest. Many settlers believed Minnesota’s vast forests would never run out of wood. In fact, on early maps the northern part of Minnesota was simply labeled as “Abundant Pine.”

But America was a growing country and countless trees were felled to build homes, furniture, and covered wagons. At the logging industry’s peak in 1900, Minnesota’s lumberjacks were harvesting about 2 billion board-feet per year – enough to construct a boardwalk around the entire planet. 

During this time, forests were not viewed as a renewable resource so there was little focus on regeneration. Rather than planting new trees, loggers employed a “cut-and-run” method, leaving behind a wasteland of stumps and discarded tree tops. This dry debris fueled catastrophic forest fires which caused further destruction and devastated many northern Minnesota communities. 

Of all the trees in Minnesota’s forests, the towering white pine was the most sought after species – it is often referred to as “the tree that built America.” It didn’t take long before nearly all of Minnesota’s “inexhaustible” virgin white pine had been harvested. 

Thankfully, the latter half of the 20th century saw a transition away from this unfettered style of logging to more intentional, planned forest management. But even though the forest products industry was shifting toward a more sustainable mindset, they were predominantly using practices like single-species plantations which did not incorporate the natural ecology and resulted in a loss of diversity and carbon storage. 

Though Minnesota’s forest has somewhat regenerated since the early 1900s, only a third of the state is still forested. Of this, less than 2 percent is considered to be undisturbed, old growth forest.

The Blandin Native American Hardwoods project is located in northeast Minnesota, within a 70-mile radius of the town of Grand Rapids. The project area comprises over 173,000 acres of forest parcels owned by Blandin Paper Company. This forest has been harvested since the turn of the century and remnants of old logging camps on the property offer a glimpse into Minnesota’s logging past. 

But logging is not just part of Minnesota’s past. The industry is still an important part of the state’s economy today. In 2020, Minnesota’s forest products industry supported nearly 70,000 jobs and generated $17.4 billion in gross sales. 

At the start of this project, Blandin signed a perpetual conservation easement which ensures their land remains a working forest for pulp and sawlog production and is not developed. While many of the region’s forest owners continue to rely on more intensive harvest practices and management techniques, Blandin works with nature to increase diversity and enhance forest health. 

Blandin utilizes SmartForestry^SM techniques to manage the forest, tailoring harvests to mimic the natural ecology of the site. Rather than planting single-species plantations, Blandin maintains a mixture of native tree species of differing ages and sizes. Along with high-value species like white spruce and red pine, this includes species like white pine that used to thrive in the area, but aren’t typically planted since they don’t provide commercial value. 

The resulting complex forests increase carbon storage, particularly when compared to the intensive practices of the past. Over the project’s 20 year crediting period, this is expected to generate nearly 3.7 million metric tons of emissions reductions. The forests’ increased diversity also makes them more resilient to threats such as invasive species, disease, and climate change. 

Employing these SmartForestry^SM methods is much more complex, and requires Blandin to sacrifice some of the short term profits that could be gained by using more intensive management. The funding from carbon offset sales plays an important role in bridging this revenue gap and incentivizing improved forest management. 

Beyond increasing carbon stocks, the project also safeguards the other environmental and socio-cultural benefits that the forest provides. Along with being a carbon sink, the forest is a critical wildlife habitat that is home to 47 types of birds, 30 miles of trout streams, and iconic species like the black bear, grey wolf, and moose. The project also ensures the forest continues its important job of maintaining water quality, and protects important freshwater resources including 151 miles of streams. This is especially important in Minnesota, where 75% of residents get their water from forested parts of the state. The project also engages individuals in conservation by providing workshops on ecosystem silviculture and giving away thousands of tree seedlings to local communities.

Beyond these environmental benefits, the Blandin forest is also a source of enjoyment for both residents and out-of-towners who visit the forest for recreational activities like snowmobiling, fishing, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and hiking. The project also employs 38 people in forest management and provides economic security for the 3,200 families that rely on the wood resources for their livelihoods.

This wind farm generates enough renewable energy to power over 45,000 homes. By generating clean wind energy, this project reduces the USA’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels and avoids harmful CO2 emissions.

Over 80% of the energy used in the USA is generated from fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal and natural gas. The excavation and processing of these fuels can take an enormous toll on landscapes. The pipelines, access roads and other infrastructure that powers the fossil fuel industry can destroy natural habitats and displace communities.  Acidic run-off from coal mining operations can end up in rivers and streams, polluting drinking water and freshwater ecosystems. 

Fossil fuels are burned to create energy to heat and light homes and businesses, and to power a huge number of other appliances. This burning creates a vast amount of carbon dioxide emissions which are trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and increase global warming and climate change.

The Big Smile Wind Farm at Dempsey Ridge is located on more than 7,500 acres of agricultural and grazing land in Oklahoma. Sixty-six wind turbines will deliver enough renewable energy to power more than 46,000 U.S. homes. By generating clean, wind energy, the project reduces reliance on environmentally damaging fossil fuels. Careful steps were taken to minimize the environmental impacts of the wind farm and prevent harm to birds, bats, and natural habitats. 

More than 130 people were employed during the construction phase of the project. The ongoing operation of the wind farm will also create 13 new full-time local jobs. Additionally, the wind farm will provide an additional revenue stream for local farmers who are paid to host the turbines on their property. In addition to the lease agreements with landowners, the project will produce increased revenues for local counties through investments in local infrastructure and property tax revenues. 

As their blades rotate in the strong South Dakota winds, the 108 turbines at Crow Lake Wind Farm generate clean electricity that displaces energy sourced from dirty fossil fuels. Along with avoiding emissions, the turbines are also used to educate students at a nearby technical college and prepare them for careers as wind technicians, and the ongoing operation of the wind farm supports local jobs.

With its sprawling prairies and some of the strongest winds in the United States, South Dakota is an ideal location for wind energy generation. Yet for many years, the state’s wind energy potential was largely untapped. In 2010, only 14% of South Dakota’s electricity came from wind energy while the remainder was primarily from fossil fuels and hydroelectric sources.  

Over the past decade, many new wind farms were built across South Dakota. Now, thousands of wind turbines dot the state’s rural farmlands and open plains. As a result, more than half (54%) of South Dakota’s electricity is now produced by clean, renewable wind energy.

This carbon offset project supports the Crow Lake Wind Farm which sits on 36,000 acres of land near Chamberlain, South Dakota. The wind farm consists of 108 turbines which began operating in 2011. Prior to its construction, an environmental impact assessment was conducted to minimize negative impacts on grasslands, bird populations, and other natural resources. 

Altogether, the wind turbines are expected to produce around 513,000 megawatt hours of clean electricity each year. This is enough to power more than 43,000 average American homes. This energy is delivered to a bulk transmission system which provides electricity to numerous states including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. By displacing energy from fossil fuel power plants with zero emissions wind energy, the Crow Lake Wind Farm avoids an average of 430,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year.    

Along with generating clean energy, the wind farm also supports career development for local communities. Since one of the wind turbines at Crow Lake is owned by a local technical college, students can gain hands-on experience climbing and maintaining it as they train to become wind turbine technicians. The wind farm itself directly employs 11 people. 

This project focuses on the sustainable management and restoration of Garcia River Forest in Northern California. By promoting selective timber harvesting, the project benefits the local economy while conserving massive Redwood trees which store substantial amounts of carbon.

Redwood forests store more carbon per acre than any other type of forest on the planet. As a result, it is incredibly important that we protect these vital ecosystems.  

The 23,780-acre Garcia River Forest is located in the heart of Northern California’s Redwood region. Decades of timber harvesting by the logging industry have severely depleted the region’s natural resources. What was once a flourishing habitat for threatened species such as northern spotted owls and Coho salmon is now a fragile ecosystem. In addition to the environmental damage caused by deforestation, soil erosion from old logging roads fills streams with sediment. As the forest becomes less productive, jobs are lost and the local economy suffers. 

This project promotes the sustainable management and restoration of Garcia River Forest, which is owned and managed by The Conservation Fund. By encouraging selective timber harvesting, the project ensures logging continues to benefit the local economy without jeopardizing the fertility of this critical habitat. In addition to conserving wooded areas, the project’s restoration activities will help improve water quality and rehabilitate aquatic habitats.

The sustainable logging method being used in Garcia River Forest allows the remaining trees to grow bigger at a faster rate. This allows them to store more carbon – good news for our planet and climate! As a result of this project, 77,000 tons of carbon emissions are absorbed and stored by the forest annually. And by increasing ecosystem productivity the project also supports local jobs and enhances recreational opportunities for current and future generations. 

This project will reduce Texas’s reliance on fossil fuels by producing renewable wind energy. The wind farm will also boost the local economy with jobs and land lease payments, while maintaining the surrounding agricultural land.

Texas produces more electricity than any other state in the USA. In fact, the Lone Star State generates almost twice as much electricity as Florida, which is the second-largest producer of electricity in the country. While some of the electricity produced in Texas comes from clean sources, the vast majority (69%) comes from coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels. When these fossil fuels are burned to generate power, they create carbon dioxide emissions which become trapped in the atmosphere and exacerbate global warming. 

Furthermore, the excavation of these fossil fuels, and the construction of related infrastructure can destroy ecosystems, pollute water, and displace whole communities. Increasing wind-generated electricity will reduce these negative impacts and provide clean energy to heat and light homes and businesses, and to power a huge number of other appliances.

The Capricorn Ridge project is located within the abundant open lands of West Texas. Covering an area of approximately 11,000 acres, the wind farm will reduce reliance on traditional fossil fuel energy sources. Seventy-five wind turbines will supply wind-generated electricity to the Lower Colorado River Authority, thus reducing the fossil fuel use in the region. 

This project employs local staff and contributes to the tax base of the Coke and Sterling counties.  Moreover, extra economic stimulus will be provided by lease payments made to land owners. Surrounding land continues to be used for agriculture, benefiting farmers and ecosystems.