CWIT AUTHORED 2010 FWIT
DC FLY-IN POSITION PAPER:
CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND CAP-AND-TRADE
CWIT COMMUNICATOR
POSITION: Federated
Women in Timber (FWIT) urges
our congressional delegates to
fully recognize the full suite of
benefits provided by working
forests, harvested wood products,
and renewable energy:
Promote working forests
that have sustainable forest
management strategies aimed
at maintaining or increasing
forest carbon stocks while producing
an annual sustained
yield of timber, fiber, and energy
from the forest
Support efficient legislation
focused on Green House
Gases (GHG) emission reductions,
inclusion of a robust offsets
program, and assurance
that a robust manufacturing
base is maintained in the US.
The legislation should explicitly
include:
The primary GHGs of
CO2, CH4, and N2O;
Exclusion of the forestry
sector from regulated sectors;
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions from combustion of
biomass and biofuels are
deemed carbon neutral;
Carbon offsets are included
that recognize forestbased
projects and renewable
energy credits (substitution of
wood for non-renewables and
use of wood for power production
and biofuels) and are not
limited.
Allowances should be
free. Any auction will be detrimental
to the overall U.S.
Economy and the ability of
businesses to compete in a
global marketplace
An economic analysis
must be performed to determine
whether the benefits of
proposed legislation and standards
are technologically feasible
and economically justified.
The United States Department
of Agriculture should
be the administering agency
with respect to forestry offset
project rules.
BACKGROUND: GHG
emission reductions should
fully recognize the potential
contributions of the forestry
sector. Of all economic sectors,
forestry is the only sector
that can and generally is a net
carbon sink. By promoting the
potential contribution of increased
standing inventory,
long-lived solid wood products,
and use of wood waste for biofuels
and power generation,
the net sink can be substantially
increased providing positive
benefit to the U.S. net
GHG emissions.
Forest carbon offsets
provide a stable method of
assuring a smooth transition to
lower future GHG emissions.
RATIONALE: According
to the Fourth Assessment
Report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
released in 2007, a sustainable
working forest “will generate
the largest sustained
mitigation benefit”:
Wood has significantly
lower lifecycle CO2 emissions
than more carbon-intensive
non-renewable products, such
as concrete and steel. Climate
policies should promote
the use of wood as a “green”
building product.
Climate policy and legislation
should also incorporate
incentives for the contribution
of forest biomass
(wood, other plant material,
residuals, and byproducts)
from private and public forest
lands to reducing atmospheric
carbon by providing a cellulose-
based feedstock for renewable
energy transportation
fuels, electricity generation
and heat). Forest biomass
has significantly lower lifecycle
CO2 emissions than fossil fuels.
CONCLUSION: Utilizing the
Forestry Sector for Offsets
provides a positive net benefit
to U.S. GHG emissions reductions
Editor’s Note: This paper will be
among the five position papers
Federated Women in Timber will
be presenting to members of congress,
key agency leaders and staff
from March 14 –19 on Capitol
Hill, in Washington, DC. this year.
