Document Type
Policy Brief
Publication Date
2023
Abstract
Many family forest landowners express concern about affording their property taxes to keep their forests in their family. By participating in the carbon market, these landowners can earn revenue that can contribute to these expenses, enabling them to keep their land and pass it on to the next generation. Depending on the program and forest condition, family forest owners can earn $6-$100+ per acre per year for actively managing their forests to store more carbon and other conservation methods. Participating in such programs can be challenging, however, as even determining if their forest is eligible for a carbon program requires families to hire a registered forester to create a management plan. Further, each program’s conditions differ and unbiased information is hard to find and assess without guidance. West Virginia policymakers should increase funding for state agencies and university extension services so they are better equipped to provide assistance to family foresters to help them with these assessments.
Recommended Citation
Eastman, Brooke, "Increase technical assistance for West Virginia family forest owners to enable access to carbon market revenues" (2023). Bridge Initiative for Science and Technology Policy, Leadership, and Communications. 6.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/bridge_initiative/6