The Georgia carbon registry

The Georgia Carbon Registry
www.gacarbon.org

Introduction
The Georgia Carbon Sequestration Registry was established by Georgia Senate Bill 356 in 2004 and is administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA).
The purpose of the Registry is to provide forest landowners, municipalities, and public and private entities with an official mechanism for the development, documentation, and reporting of carbon emissions offset projects undertaken in Georgia.
Participation in the Registry is completely voluntary. However, entities and individuals who develop forest-based offset projects in Georgia are encouraged to document their activities using the Registry.
New revenue opportunities Promote forest stewardship Keep working forests in forest use

The Registry has developed straightforward protocols for estimating carbon stocks in forests.
Eligible projects include:
Afforestation and reforestation
Forest management and conservation
Soon, the Registry will add protocols for:
Urban tree plantings
Conservation tillage

General Specifications for Forest Carbon Emissions Offset Projects
Project land located in the state of Georgia. Forest projects must have a Georgia forest stewardship plan or equivalent. Use approved protocols to quantify carbon stocks with the technical assistance of a GFC-approved registered forester. Afforestation and reforestation projects must have been initiated in 1990 or later. Forest project delineated and boundaries clearly defined. Signed landowner agreement that allows GFC personnel onto project lands in order to verify and monitor project data reported to the Registry.
Updated 17 September 2007

Contact Us:
The Carbon Registry Georgia Forestry Commission P.O. Box 819 Macon, GA 31210
Joshua Love (Registry Manager) 478.751.3482 joshl@gfc.state.ga.us
Druid Preston (Registry Forester) 478.751.1746 dpreston@gfc.state.ga.us
Registry Website: www.gacarbon.org
GFC Website: www.gatrees.org

Frequently Asked Questions about the Carbon Registry
www.gacarbon.org
What is a forest carbon emissions offset project? Forest projects fall under two broad categories: afforestation and forest management. Afforestation projects include tree planting activities on lands that were in non-forest use prior to January 1, 1990. Forest management projects include a wide range of practices on existing forestland that facilitate the accumulation and storage of carbon in wood, soils, and other carbon pools. Examples of eligible forest management projects include forest enrichment, restoration, conservation, and other practices that enhance the carbon-storing capacity of the forest.
Does the Registry issue "carbon credits"? The Registry does not issue carbon credits that may be used as instruments of value. The assessment and valuation of a carbon credit is left to the determination of the offset buyer and seller through private contracts. The Registry does not enforce third party contracts.
Will the Registry buy my forest offsets? The Registry is not a purchaser, aggregator, or broker of carbon emission offsets. The Registry's primary function is to provide for the documentation of forest offset projects undertaken in Georgia. The goal of the Registry program is to promote the importance of forestry and land-use in any policy designed to address climate change and to ensure that Georgia's landowners are well positioned to take advantage of current and future markets for emissions offsets. Those landowners who wish to develop projects may use the Registry as a marketing tool, and Registry staff members will actively pursue market opportunities for registered projects.
I'm interested in developing a project on my land. How will the Registry help me sell offsets? Registry staff members are actively pursuing new market opportunities for forest offsets around the country. Much of our work focuses on finding innovative ways to help private landowners participate in emerging carbon markets. When you develop and implement a forest project, you can be sure that the Registry will provide marketing assistance.
Why is there a fee associated with project registration? Where does this money go? The fee is designed to only cover the administrative costs associated with registration, as determined by the GSCCCA. The sliding scale, based upon project size, is used to determine the registration fee, which may be found on the Registry website.
What role does the Georgia Forestry Commission play in the Registry? The GFC is responsible for maintaining the transparency and accuracy of the Registry. This is achieved through monitoring and verification of registered forest projects by GFC foresters.
Is there a penalty associated with decreasing forest carbon stocks? The Registry is designed only to track carbon stocks in forest projects on an annual basis. No penalties are associated with significant decreases in carbon stocks. Participants are required only to quantify and report these decreases.
Updated 17 September 2007