Healthy Forests, Healthy Planet Act Gives Incentives to Reduce Carbon, Produce Biofuels
Washington, D.C. – Representative Heath Shuler introduced legislation today to provide private
landowners with an incentive to preserve forest land by expanding access to carbon trading and
biomass markets.
“Our forests can play an important, long term role in mitigating the effects of climate change and
helping the nation become energy independent,” said Shuler. “Private landowners hold the key to
saving our environment, and we should do everything we can to reward them for doing the right
thing.”
The Healthy Forests, Healthy Planet Act provides landowners with incentives to participate in
carbon trading markets. Currently these markets are voluntary and operate under minimum
quantity standards that usually exclude owners of small private forestland. The Healthy Forests,
Healthy Planet Act provides the management infrastructure needed to hasten an orderly
development of both carbon and biomass markets.
The bill would track carbon and biomass projects on a regional basis, assist small forest
landowners with quantifying their forest carbon and trading capabilities, and provide cost
efficient mechanisms for ensuring that landowners use sustainable forest management practices.
The Healthy Forests, Healthy Planet Act would also influence the biomass markets by
encouraging the use of locally-produced biomass. This will promote regional energy
independence and create entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.
This legislation is cosponsored by Representative Peter DeFazio, Chairman of the Subcommittee
on Highways and Transit of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
###
Download: Rep. Shuler Introduces Legislation to Sustain Forests and Reduce Emissions