In 2006 California passed Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which sets target levels for emissions reductions to 1990 levels by 2020. As of January 1, 2013, all large emitters of greenhouse gasses in the state will be included in a mandatory cap and trade system and required to meet predetermined emissions levels. Those emitters that are unable to reach their target will be required to account for the shortfall by purchasing credits from other emitters, or acquire offsets from uncapped sources. The California Air Resources Board has included offsets from forest carbon projects as an approved offset type within the cap and trade system, and for projects originating in the US. Bilateral agreements have also been signed to source offsets from specific projects in Mexico and Brazil.
In the past, Sauder S3i has worked with Offsetters on the use of forest carbon projects in BC for First Nations development purposes. With this in mind, this suit of reports produced from this research will explore how the skills and expertise gained from the BC forest carbon system could be applied to projects on Tribal lands in the United States. Tribes have jurisdiction over land use within Tribal Lands and increasingly seek energy independence through biomass fuel sources. The research will explore the case for forest carbon projects on Tribal lands in the US and the corresponding potential for biomass to energy technologies.