Forest Carbon Resources

The Trust owns more than 60,000 acres of forest in Southeast Alaska that are responsibly overseen by the Trust Land Office through its intensive forest management program. This acreage includes old-growth stands and second-growth stands of vibrant, healthy, fast-growing forests. In this region of Alaska, second-growth natural regeneration forests of trees grow at a rapid pace, capturing carbon at an accelerated rate.

Trust-owned forests in Southeast Alaska are primarily Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Alaska Yellow Cedar, and Red Alder trees.

The Trust’s high-integrity forests are sustainably overseen by a professional forester, ensuring responsible forest management now and into the future.

Trust-owned forest lands in Southeast Alaska for which carbon credits are purchased will remain open to the public for day-use recreation, and for permitted use for activities such as camping, non-commercial trapping and firewood harvest (naturally-downed trees only), and small ATV use.

In addition to its Forest Carbon program, the Trust Land Office is also engaged in the renewable energy sector through surface leases of Trust lands to wind and solar energy project proponents in Alaska.

When financially supporting the Trust's Intensive Forest Management Program or purchasing carbon credits from the Trust, the funds stay in Alaska and support Mental Health Trust beneficiaries and communities. Revenues generated from Trust lands support the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority’s work to improve the lives of Trust beneficiaries: Alaskans who experience developmental disabilities and behavioral health conditions. The Trust serves as a leader in policy and advocacy related to its beneficiary populations, and grants more than $20M a year to nonprofits, service providers, state and local governments, Tribal entities, and other partners.

Learn more about the work of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and how the Trust Land Office supports Trust beneficiaries.

For more information about the Trust's intensive forest management program, please contact Jeff Hermanns, the Trust's Forester, at 907-269-8421, or jeff.hermanns@alaska.gov.