Carbon Offsets

Voluntary carbon offset markets offer corporations and individuals the opportunity to support emissions-reduction efforts. This is often done in the spirit of 'offsetting' emissions produced by the individual's or corporation's actions. One variety of emissions-reduction efforts are known as Improved Forest Management. Bayfield County Forests have been working toward providing improved forest management credits to a carbon offset market. They are able to do this because their management practices have led to carbon sequestration in Bayfield County Forests beyond what one would expect in a forest producing high timber volumes.

Bloomberg News Article on carbon offsets that mentions Bayfield County.  April 2022

This article describes how counties are getting money for carbon offsets without changing their management practices or sequestering additional carbon.  Bayfield County has an opportunity to be a leader in this area by using the Carbon Offset payment to take land out of the harvest schedule and increase carbon sequestration, in line with the purpose of an offset program.  

WPR Story on this issue. May 31, 2022 "Five Wisconsin counties sign 'dubious' carbon offset agreements"