LandYield is a program specifically designed for family forest owners that is reshaping the carbon market landscape. Through the program, private landowners with between 40 and 5,000 acres can tap into a valuable new source of revenue — the sale of carbon credits from deferring timber harvests.
In this article, we’ll introduce the market dynamics that have led to the creation of LandYield and how our program is opening up access to carbon markets.
Family forest owners collectively manage one-third of all forests in the United States. With such a significant footprint, these landowners hold immense potential for making meaningful strides in carbon reduction and addressing climate change.
Recent studies have made clear the important role forests have to play in capturing and storing carbon and mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. Climate-smart forestry practices, like selective logging and extending harvest rotations, have been shown to be some of the most effective solutions for drawing down atmospheric carbon and stabilizing the climate. Natural climate solutions have the potential to provide up to 37% of the cost-effective CO2 mitigation that’s needed through 2030 for at least a 66% chance of holding global warming below 2°celsius.
Carbon markets have evolved to reward landowners for legally committing to practices scientifically proven to sequester additional carbon. By participating in the carbon market, forest owners can access revenue from holistic forest management that values the entire suite of benefits that forests provide. More diverse forests that include mature stands of timber, not only store more carbon but also provide for a range of wildlife habitats while increasing soil and water quality.
While managing for these diverse values has long been cited as a priority for family forest owners, financial pressures continue to push many to harvest, develop, or sell their legacy forests. However, the rising price of carbon and the expansion of voluntary carbon sequestration is beginning to provide a broader range of forest owners with a viable alternative.
According to estimates by Morgan Stanley, the voluntary carbon market could grow from its 2022 valuation of approximately $2 billion to around $100 billion by 2030, with further growth projected to reach $250 billion by 2050. Companies and governments are the forces behind this growth. By increasing their commitments to decarbonize and offset their own greenhouse gas emissions, they’re improving the value of carbon and creating prime opportunities for private forest owners.
Family forest owners are perfectly suited to carbon projects
Family forest owners express values that make them particularly well-suited for carbon projects. They often prioritize preserving recreational opportunities, wildlife habitats, the beauty of the land, and family legacy when making forest management decisions.
LandYield’s forest carbon program aligns well with these goals. The revenue from carbon credits can support rural economies while allowing landowners to engage in commercial activities such as leasing hunting rights to their land, collecting non-timber forest products, maintaining cabin sites for camping, or allowing hiking and access to cultural sites on their land.
Participating landowners can also work with a forester to develop plans that will protect water resources, improve wildlife habitat quality, and ensure the ongoing health and beauty of the forest. Enrolling in a carbon program serves the most frequently cited landowner values while creating a transparent and attractive revenue stream.
Carbon markets haven’t been accessible — Until now
While the advantages of participating in carbon programs are clear, many obstacles have historically prevented family forest owners from realizing the benefits:
- The price of carbon over the last few decades has remained consistently low.
- Carbon project development protocols have been complex and expensive.
- Traditional measurement, accounting, verification, and ongoing monitoring for carbon projects can have high costs.
- Contracts for program participation have been extremely long ( e.g. a century).
- Harvesting timber continues to command a much higher and quicker potential cash value per acre.
The combination of high project development costs and the low price of carbon has effectively kept most family forest owners with less than 5,000 acres out of the market.
Traditional models typically require well over 5,000 acres to cover development costs and still generate reasonable amounts of revenue for the landowner.
As a result, less than 1% of the 275 million acres of privately owned timberland in the United States has been able to participate in the carbon market. Innovations were clearly needed to create a pathway into the market for this critical landowner demographic. Fortunately, a novel approach designed specifically with the family forest owner in mind is now available.
LandYield – How it works
The launch of LandYield is revolutionizing the carbon market by leveraging new technology to reduce development and monitoring costs, opening access to timberland owners with 40 to 5,000 acres. Our improved process finally makes carbon programs feasible and accessible for the average family forest owner in the U.S.
We utilize the latest in high-resolution satellite data — combined with ground data from the U.S. Forest Service — to streamline and accelerate the mapping and monitoring of forest carbon. This significantly reduces the previously prohibitive costs of on-site measurements, verification, and monitoring. With satellite imagery, it’s possible to calculate the precise carbon dioxide emission reductions and removals that can result from purposeful, climate-smart forest management.
Enrollment in the LandYield carbon program gives landowners a new option for creating revenue streams from their timberlands, while simultaneously enhancing its recreational and environmental values. The process is straightforward:
- Design your project with zero upfront costs.
- Map and enroll the acres you choose using our easy online tool.
- Receive a free, no-obligation estimate of the value of the carbon in your forest.
- Commit to deferring commercial harvests for 20 years.
- Receive quarterly payments for up to 20 years.
- Enjoy your forest, increase its asset value, and maintain recreational and non-timber forest product opportunities.
LandYield employs its extensive forestry and carbon expertise to manage all monitoring and reporting requirements following American Carbon Registry guidelines. As program members, landowners have the flexibility to continue using their land while also creating a transparent and attractive revenue stream. Regular quarterly payments for carbon captured in your forests can help with management expenses, taxes, insurance, and other costs.
Preserve your forest’s beauty for future generations
The program extends beyond carbon revenue and can foster interactions with local natural resource professionals. Collaborating with a forester on your carbon project can improve wildlife habitats, biodiversity, and preserve the health and beauty of your forests for future generations.
For the first time, many forest owners can be rewarded for taking real action to support climate change mitigation. Carbon project enrollment combines the benefits of carbon revenue with climate-smart forestry practices that mimic natural disturbances in the timing and extent of harvests. The result can be increased carbon sequestration, improved water and air quality, and healthier trees and wildlife on forest lands.
As LandYield allows landowners to enroll only the acres they choose, they have the freedom to reserve certain lands while committing other stands to absorbing and offsetting carbon emissions. This flexibility empowers owners to do what makes the most sense for their individual needs and forest plans.
The combination of a reliable new revenue stream and ecological benefits may be exactly what family forest owners need to get involved in carbon projects for the first time. In the crucial years ahead, carbon-smart forest management can make a substantial difference in our climate and communities.
LandYield aims to be the premier choice for private forest landowners in the US to generate income from carbon. Learn more about our program, the benefits for landowners, and how to get a free revenue estimate with no commitment by clicking here.
