The Afognak improved forest management project takes place on Afognak Island,
Alaska, approximately 650km southwest of Anchorage. The project area consists of
old growth sitka spruce stands, nonproductive open areas, and previously clearcut
areas with dense grasses, shrubs, and sporadic sitka spruce regeneration. The land
is jointly owned by the American Land Conservancy (ALC) and the Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation (RMEF). Prior land use history included aggressive clearcutting for commercial logging operations, a practice that continues in the region outside of the project area. Further clearcuts were once planned for the project area but were abandoned when the land transferred to ALC and RMEF.
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Registry
Registry ID: 872
Methodology
Verified Carbon Standard
Critical bear species find habitat in the far northern climate protected by the Afognak project.
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Pachama's project evaluation criteriaPachama rigorously evaluates every project listed on our marketplace to ensure that we're surfacing only the highest quality projects. Our Evaluation Criteria includes a series of checks that every project must pass as well as a number of informative insights on project quality. You can see a preview of these checks below.
01
Additional
Does the project have a net additional climate benefit?
Net additional climate benefit
Emissions reductions are calculated based on the difference between baseline, project, and leakage emissions. Pachama analyzes emissions claims to confirm that the project has a net additional climate benefit, and each credit represents at least one metric ton of carbon.
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Conservative
Is the climate benefit based on sound and conservative claims?
Baseline claims
Pachama analyzes baseline emissions accounting to confirm that the reported baseline emissions are less than what Pachama observes with remote sensing.
Project claims
Pachama assesses the project boundary, project emissions accounting, carbon inventory, and financial and legal additionality.
Leakage claims
Pachama summarizes the project's reported leakage emissions accounting.
03
Durable
Is the climate benefit long-lasting?
Ongoing monitoring
Pachama quantifies emissions since the last verification to ensure the project continues to deliver a climate benefit.
Project risks
Pachama characterizes fire and other natural risks and summarizes buffer pool contributions.
04
Beyond Carbon
Does the project deliver benefits beyond carbon?
Social impacts
If a project occurs on community-owned land, Pachama confirms the community is fully informed of the project activity and impact, consent is given without coercion, and a grievance and redress mechanism is in place.
Ecological impacts
For ARR projects, Pachama analyzes native species planting, species diversity, regional suitability, and reforestation practices.
Certifications
Pachama provides a summary of the project's awarded certifications.
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Quality check
A quantitative threshold that each project must align with in order to pass Pachama's Evaluation Criteria. If a project does not align with any one of Pachama's checks, it will not be listed on the marketplace.
Quality insights
A qualitative insight relevant to carbon credit quality. Quality Insights do not impact whether a project aligns with Pachama's Evaluation Criteria.
Impacts beyond carbon
Increasing overall ecosystem diversity in a high-logging region
With logging activity increasing in the region, and with the rate of natural reforestation in the region so low, maintaining mature forests will provide local wildlife with valuable habitat and increase overall ecosystem diversity in the area.
Afognak Island is sparsely populated and difficult to access, however the project does maintain a system of public trails and cabins for those bold enough to venture to this area.
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Responsible consumption and production
This project is helping with responsible consumption and production in a high-logging activity area.
Public registry documentsApplicable calculation methods are referenced in the reports below. Note that registries do not publicly provide all pertinent data required to reproduce emissions calculations. However, Independent Validation and Verification Bodies have access to the data needed to reproduce and verify emissions calculations.