Both West Virginia University researchers and forestry stakeholders are more knowledgeable about the needs and options of landowners thanks to a conference hosted by WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design.
The Forest Carbon Management in Central Appalachia Conference took place September 25-27 at the Morgantown Marriott and brought together researchers, experts, industry representatives, extension agents and landowners.
With a grant of $49,700 from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to plan the event, Associate Professor of Forest Resources Management Kathryn Gazal and Post-doctoral Fellow Brooke Eastman along with Davis College Teaching Associate Professor Charlene Kelly, Professor and Extension Specialist Dave McGill and Professor Eddie Brzostek from the WVU Eberly College of Arts and Sciences facilitated presentations, panels and discussions focused on landowners’ needs and environmental considerations.
“Forests take a lot of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it,” Eastman said. “There are companies that want to offset their greenhouse gas emissions, and they look to forest landowners to achieve that goal.”
Eastman and Gazal are transcribing the discussions had at the conference to create a white paper, an informational document highlighting solutions and services, that will be available to the public. This paper will aid them as they do more landowner education concerning options, risks and benefits of enrolling in carbon programs. This research will further the understanding of landowners, companies and environmental needs as future public policy decisions are made.
“Writing this white paper and analyzing the forest carbon market, identifying research gaps and considering policymakers' actions will help drive forest management and the carbon market in an effective, efficient and equitable direction,” Gazal said.
Gazal added that she and Eastman will also develop landowner educational materials about forest carbon sequestration, forest carbon management and the carbon market.
“It’s a complicated topic,” Eastman continued. “Landowners need resources to make decisions on what’s best for their forests and families."
With 150 people in attendance, the biggest praise was for the diverse perspectives presented during panel discussions which focused on ecology, economics, social science and environmental justice.
“The conference included topics on who is benefiting and who is getting left out from this carbon market,” Eastman said. “Many attendees were interested in solutions that ensure local, rural and central Appalachian communities are seeing the benefits of the money being exchanged for carbon offsets.”
West Virginia is the third most forested state in the nation. Central Appalachia has a long history of large companies coming in to extract resources like timber, coal and natural gas. When those resources are removed so is the wealth those resources provided, resulting in the local communities becoming further impoverished. Many attendees expressed such concerns related to forest carbon management.
Gazal said their research may provide a kind of “roadmap for enhancing the forest carbon market in the region and ensure that carbon offset programs are effective, efficient and equitable.”
“Our goal is to find ways for the forests of central Appalachia to benefit those who are living here and have been for generations,” Eastman added. “Forest carbon management is a great opportunity for West Virginia, and we need to work together to make sure the forests and the people are protected and considered in the decision-making process.”
Based on the positive feedback received, Gazal, Eastman and their colleagues are interested in coordinating the event again. With policies and practices changing often, she said it would be beneficial to host another conference in the future. To do so, additional funding will be needed.
“We hope to get the information from the conference out to the public -- especially to landowners -- so they have an unbiased source on forest carbon management and understand what their options are,” Eastman added.
The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design envisions a world sustainably fed, clothed and sheltered. To learn more about the Davis College, visit davis.wvu.edu. Keep up with the latest updates and news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube by following @WVUDavis.
-WVU-
Ls/10/24/23
CONTACT: Leah Smith
Communications Specialist
Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design
304-290-8680; lnestor2@mail.wvu.edu
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