Program on the Environment

Small landowners comprise a notable percentage of the private forestland in the Pacific Northwest – and they are excluded from participating in the carbon market. Their potential to produce carbon credits can make a significant impact on reaching net zero emissions. The aim of my research was to understand how communication plays a role in small landowner participation in carbon programs, and consequently, how marketing strategies can be improved to incentivize their enrollment. My work with Northwest Natural Resource Group was intended to identify current carbon programs available to Pacific Northwest landowners owning less than 1000 acres. Through a literature review, fifteen interviews of landowners, program representatives, and project developers, alongside comprehensive online searches, I discovered what programs are presently active, the reasoning behind their requirements, and how Pacific Northwest landowners perceive these opportunities. Carbon programs available to small landowners are not only limited, but often lack the level of transparency and simplicity needed to incentivize landowners to participate. Incorporating the needs of landowners into program development can encourage their engagement. Streamlining informative resources with digestible language or expanding the regions in which these programs serve to include Pacific Northwest landowners is a step toward improved practice. Landowner involvement can further mature the market, contributing to a positive feedback loop and creating a more attractive environment for landowners to enroll in. Involving this community increases the number of carbon credits being sold in the market while simultaneously aiding in achieving the net zero goals established by the international community.