Winston Creek – Improved Forest Management

Project type: Improved forest management Emission reduction type: Carbon removals Standard: American Carbon Registry

Washington’s Winston Creek project is sequestering carbon and improving local air quality The Winston Creek Forest Project is a 10,000-acre forest located in Lewis County, Washington, owned and managed by Port Blakely, a family-owned company dating back five generations. The forest is located between two separate blocks of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and serves as a bridge for owls traveling from nesting locations, which forms the basis of the Safe Harbor Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. WATCH THE VIDEO REI’s commitment to the Winston Creek Forest Project Founded  in 1938, REI has long incorporated environmentally-ethical business practices into its operation. Earlier this year, the long-time 3Degrees customer announced that it had achieved its 14-year carbon neutrality commitment. This commitment involved balancing its residual emissions with an equivalent investment in the sequestration or avoidance of emissions through the purchase of carbon credits. REI has also set a target to more than halve its emissions by 2030. Because a forest’s ability to capture carbon from the atmosphere increases exponentially between 35 and 60 years of growth, trees in the Winston Creek forest project are only harvested after they’ve had a chance to mature and add considerable mass. Many forests in the industry are harvested after 35 years of growth, but at Winston Creek, Port Blakely waits almost twice as long. Adding almost two decades to the tree’s life exponentially increases its ability to sequester carbon and improve local air quality for the surrounding communities. The project also harvests less than 1.5% of the acreage each year, creating long-term sustainable forest management.

Project type: Improved forest management Emission reduction type: Carbon removals Standard: American Carbon Registry The Winston Creek Forest Project is a 10,000-acre forest located in Lewis County, Washington, owned and managed by Port Blakely, a family-owned company dating back five generations. The forest is located between two separate blocks of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and serves as a bridge for owls traveling from nesting locations, which forms the basis of the Safe Harbor Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Port Blakely Winston Creek Forest Carbon Project from Port Blakely on Vimeo. Because a forest’s abilities to capture carbon from the atmosphere increases exponentially between 35 and 60 years of growth, trees in the Winston Creek forest project are only harvested after they’ve had a chance to mature and add considerable mass. Many forests in the industry are harvested after 35 years of growth, but at Winston Creek, Port Blakely waits almost twice as long. Adding almost two decades to the tree’s life exponentially increases its ability to sequester carbon and improve local air quality for the surrounding communities. The project also harvests less than 1.5% of the acreage each year, creating long-term sustainable forest management.

CO-BENEFITS

Environmental:

Clean Water

The streams that run through the protected area are under careful management, ensuring the continual flow of clean water. All stream crossings have been upgraded, meeting or exceeding the highest standards well ahead of state-sanctioned deadlines. The company also voluntarily upgraded its stream crossings in Oregon to meet the stricter Washington state standards.

Wildlife Habitat

A mosaic approach to forest management allows this project to provide a diversity of trees and plant life, offering a safe habitat for several endangered species.

Social:

Education/Recreation

Those who visit the forest can see first-hand the many benefits of improved forest management. In a nearby forest over 80,000 4th graders have been through the company’s environmental education program, helping students learn about sustainable forestry. The forest area also provides recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors such as hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, berry picking and bird watching.

SDG Impacts:

• SDG 4 – Quality Education: Port Blakely’s Environmental Education program helps build the sustainability leaders and outdoor enthusiasts of our next generation.
• SDG 6 – Clean Water: Clean water and fish habitat are enhanced through forestry best management practices used throughout the project such as protection of aquatic habitats and slope stabilization.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: The trees in the Winston Creek Project help fight climate change by actively sequestering carbon for nearly twice as long as in many industrial forests.
• SDG 15 – Life on Land: The project is designed taking a landscape-wide approach with the habitat needs of native wildlife taken into consideration, including terrestrial and aquatic forest species.

Photos Courtesy of Port Blakely

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To learn more about the Winston Creek project and how your organization can support this initiative and address its GHG emissions with verified emissions reductions, get in touch.