Forest Carbon Policy & Program Support

Technical advisory services for government agencies and policy organizations developing forest carbon programs, biomass utilization policies, or landscape-scale conservation initiatives.

Is This For You?

This service supports:

  • State forestry agencies developing forest carbon programs or wildfire mitigation strategies
  • Federal land management agencies (USFS, BLM) implementing carbon and ecosystem service initiatives
  • Climate policy offices designing forest-based climate mitigation programs
  • Regional planning organizations coordinating landscape-scale forest management
  • Tribal governments developing forest carbon or biomass utilization programs

Policy Development Challenges

Technical Capacity Constraints

Government agencies often face limited in-house expertise in advanced remote sensing, carbon accounting, or optimization modeling needed for program design and implementation.

Stakeholder Coordination Complexity

Forest carbon and biomass policies require coordination across diverse stakeholders including timber industry, conservation organizations, landowners, and rural communities. Facilitating consensus requires technical expertise and neutral convening.

Data Infrastructure Gaps

Landscape-scale forest management requires comprehensive geospatial data infrastructure. Many jurisdictions lack integrated data systems combining ownership, forest inventory, fire risk, and ecological attributes.

Accountability and Transparency

Public programs require transparent, science-based decision support tools that can withstand scrutiny. Methods must be well-documented and replicable.

How Arbos Supports Policy Implementation

Landscape-Scale Geospatial Analysis

Experience designing geographic data library for Sacramento River watershed, providing comprehensive geospatial resources for water and forest resource management. Expertise in database design, web application development, and spatial analysis at regional scales.

Carbon Program Design

Technical knowledge of forest carbon offset protocols under VCS, CAR, and California compliance programs. Understanding of MRV system requirements, additionality frameworks, and verification processes applicable to program design.

Stakeholder Facilitation

Experience convening stakeholders across wood products value chains to identify barriers to innovation and develop solutions. Background includes community capacity building, workshop facilitation, and public outreach on biomass technologies.

Legislative Technical Support

Contributed to SB1122 amendments for biomass power plants in California, demonstrating experience translating technical analysis into policy recommendations and providing legislative support.

Relevant Capabilities

Technical Credentials

  • Design lead, Sacramento River watershed geographic data library
  • Technical support for California SB1122 biomass power plant amendments
  • 15+ years experience in forest policy analysis and program design
  • Database design and web application development for forest management
  • Stakeholder facilitation and consensus building expertise
  • 30+ peer-reviewed publications providing research foundation

Program Support Services

Geospatial Data Infrastructure

  • Geographic data library design and implementation
  • Integration of ownership, inventory, fire risk, and ecological data
  • Web-based decision support tool development
  • Database administration and data management systems
  • Spatial analysis workflows and automation

Forest Carbon Program Design

  • MRV framework development for state or regional programs
  • Carbon accounting protocol design
  • Additionality and baseline methodologies
  • Quality assurance and verification frameworks
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis of program alternatives

Biomass Utilization Policy Analysis

  • Feedstock availability assessment at regional scales
  • Economic impact analysis of biomass utilization technologies
  • Policy analysis for renewable energy incentives
  • Regulatory compliance frameworks for sustainable biomass sourcing
  • Environmental assessment of biomass conversion pathways

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Multi-stakeholder workshop design and facilitation
  • Technical advisory committee coordination
  • Public outreach and education programs
  • Consensus building on contentious policy issues
  • Community capacity building for participation in programs

Wildfire and Forest Health Programs

  • Landscape-scale wildfire risk assessment
  • Fuel treatment prioritization across ownerships
  • Integration of fire risk into forest management planning
  • Forest health monitoring system design
  • Climate adaptation strategy development

Project Examples

Program support has included:

  • Sacramento River watershed geographic data library (design lead)
  • Technical contributions to California biomass power plant policy (SB1122)
  • Community capacity building for wood energy project development
  • Workshop facilitation on biomass utilization strategies
  • Grant application support for forest management programs

Engagement Approach

Policy support projects often involve:

  1. Needs Assessment: Collaborative definition of program objectives, technical requirements, and stakeholder landscape
  2. Technical Analysis: Geospatial analysis, carbon accounting, or economic assessment to inform program design
  3. Tool Development: Creation of decision support tools, databases, or analytical frameworks for program implementation
  4. Stakeholder Process: Facilitation of advisory committees, workshops, or public comment processes
  5. Implementation Support: Training, documentation, and ongoing technical assistance

Discuss policy and program support for your forest carbon or biomass initiative.