About MACED's Forest Opportunities Initiative

Visit the Appalachian Carbon Partnership website.

Click here to visit the Kentucky Forest Landowner's Website.

Click here to download the report.

maced’s approach to sustainable forest management

Since 1979 MACED has been involved in forestry-related issues in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. We have invested millions of dollars to support value-added wood processing businesses, developed resources to support good forestry practices and provided tools to help landowners and communities better manage forest land.

Forests are important individual and community assets that provide vital sources of clean air, water, recreation and wildlife habitat. MACED believes that with careful stewardship and targeted investment, forests can provide a sustainable income to private forest landowners through selective timber harvests, non-timber forest products,and ecosystem services such as carbon storage while protecting the benefits of healthy forests.

forest opportunities initiative (foi)

The Forest Opportunities Initiative (FOI), is a powerful new model for promoting the practice of sustainable forest management on private, non-industrial forest lands. This demonstration program provides new revenue options for forest landowners while also promoting the sustainable management of forestland.

This program is the first ever in Central Appalachia to compensate forest landowners for the carbon sequestered by their sustainably managed forests, linking the global issue of climate change directly to local sustainable development in Central Appalachia.

The FOI works to achieve the following goals:

• Increase the ecological health and economic value of forests in Central Appalachia.

• Increase the practice of sustainable forest management.

• Connect landowners to new revenue options including carbon offsets and other certified sustainable forest products.

• Strengthen the sustainable forestry value chain by enhancing Forest Stewardship Council certification opportunities.

• Advocate for effective state and federal policy that promotes sustainable forestry.

appalachian carbon partnership (acp)

Beginning in 2009, the FOI has expanded its reach outside of Kentucky through the Appalachian Carbon Partnership. Now private forest landowners throughout Central Appalachia can connect to a new source of income available through managed forest carbon offsets. This allows local individuals and communities, in a region typically dominated by extractive industries, to better protect and maintain a healthy environment while achieving greater financial stability.

Visit the Appalachian Carbon Partnership website to learn how you can benefit from this growing market. Or visit MACED’s Managed Forest Carbon Offsets page for more information.