Forests & Climate Change Talk
From: Karen Maki <karenmaki@EARTHLINK.NET>Subject: INVITATION ~ Sierra Club Climate Change and Forest Discussion January 11thTo: LOMAP-CONS-COMM@LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORGDate: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 3:18 PM
Hi Everyone,
Many folks think about addressing climate change in terms by conserving energy, driving less, using renewable energy, and driving hybrids. However, forests are also an important part of the answer. They are unique in being both a carbon source and sink. Right now 20% of carbons emissions come from deforestation. If we could keep our forests intact, they would be sequestering carbon instead of increasing the problem. The California Air Resources Board’s Forest Project Protocol Version 3 was an attempt to bridge. However, many environmentalists see the Protocol as incentivizing clearcutting.
Attend the discussion to find out more.
Karen
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Climate Change and Forests Discussion
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7 PM
Loma Prieta Chapter, 3921 E. Bayshore Road, Palo Alto
http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/directory.asp
Please join the Forest Protection Committee of the Loma Prieta Chapter in a discussion of a climate change and forests with Brian Nowicki, California Climate Policy Director, Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Sierra Club California’s forest lobbyist Michael Endicott will also be participating in the discussion.
Forests are a unique part of the climate change situation as they both store and emit carbon dioxide. Last September, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted Forest Project Protocol Version 3 to set the parameters by which private and public forest land owners could sell carbon credits and industries could buy offsets to compensate for their emissions. The forestry industry is delighted and immediately signed contract to sell offsets. However, many environmentalists are not so happy.
CBD wrote the Board asking them to rescind the Protocol because the environmental impact of the Protocol had not adequately been considered. In addition, the Protocol is in conflict with the State’s desire for an immediate reduction in green house gases since its benefits occur in later into the 100-year harvesting cycle.
Brian will provide a brief overview of the Protocol and then open the floor up to questions and discussion to help us understand how the protocol works and how we can help. You can read CBD’s press release at http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2009/clearcut-carbon-credits-11-10-2009.html. A link to BCD’s letter is at the bottom.
Brian Nowicki, California Climate Policy Director, works in the Center's Climate Law Institute, with a focus on state-level climate change policy. He holds a master of science in forestry and previously worked on endangered species policy for the Center.
For questions, contact Forest Protection Committee Chair Karen Maki at 650-366-0577, karen.maki@lomaprieta.sierraclub.org
