The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service announced the allocation of $150 million to enable underserved and small-acreage forest landowners to access emerging voluntary climate markets. These markets hold potential economic incentives for landowners while encouraging enhanced forest health and management practices.

 
Private-sector climate markets now offer economic incentives for maintaining forests through practices such as reforestation and improved forest management. The Forest Service explained that barriers like high acreage requirements and startup costs have negatively impacted many small-acreage and underserved private forest owners from these markets.

The funding being announced aims to break down those barriers, extending access to markets that were previously beyond reach. This expansion is anticipated to allow underserved landowners to address climate change, support local economies, safeguard land ownership for future generations, and protect private forestlands from encroaching development pressures.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore emphasizes the critical role of working forests in local economies and climate resilience: "As private forest landowners face increasing pressures to convert their forests to other uses, we are helping underserved and small acreage landowners to access new economic opportunities to ensure working forests remain intact."

https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/releases/usda-invests-150m-connect-underserved-and-small-acreage-forest-landowners-emerging