In a significant step towards combating climate change, Weyerhaeuser Company, a leading private timberland owner, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a global conservation organization, have joined forces in a multi-year collaboration. This partnership aims to delve deeper into the scientific understanding of how forests and their products contribute to mitigating climate change.
The collaboration brings together two giants in their respective fields, uniting a major timberland owner with one of the world’s leading conservation organizations. This alliance is poised to amplify the positive impact of forests in the fight against climate change. TNC has been at the forefront of research quantifying the full potential of nature to absorb and store carbon, highlighting the importance of ‘natural climate solutions.’ These solutions, which include protecting, managing, and restoring forests and other ecosystems, can potentially absorb a significant amount of greenhouse gases, contributing to a substantial reduction in climate change’s impact.
Over the next few years, Weyerhaeuser and TNC will work together on a range of initiatives, including:
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Forest research:
Conducting in-depth research on the intricacies of forest ecosystems to better understand their role in climate mitigation.*
Greenhouse gas accounting:
Developing and implementing standardized frameworks for accurately measuring greenhouse gas emissions and removals associated with forests.*
Carbon project methodologies:
Supporting the development of robust methodologies for carbon projects, ensuring their effectiveness and transparency.*
Climate-smart forestry practices:
Shaping strategies that accelerate the adoption of sustainable forestry practices worldwide, including the expansion and refinement of existing forest-based climate solutions and the creation of new programs encompassing a wider range of practices, geographies, and forest types.This collaboration acknowledges the critical role of businesses in creating a sustainable future. As Peter Ellis, global director of NCS science at TNC, emphasizes, collaborations like this provide vital opportunities to expand research possibilities and accelerate scientific progress.
Both Weyerhaeuser and TNC recognize the crucial need for climate commitments to mobilize support for natural climate solutions. They believe that market-based approaches can unleash the potential of managed forests to sequester more carbon, stimulate private-sector investment in rural communities, and ensure the preservation of forests.
A shared goal is to foster a transparent and reliable carbon market, underpinned by high-quality greenhouse gas accounting and high-integrity forest carbon projects employing rigorous, scientific methodologies. This collaboration also seeks to elevate research into climate-smart forestry practices and the carbon storage potential of forests with diverse tree species.
This partnership is a testament to the collective commitment of both organizations to prioritize nature-based climate solutions. It is a beacon of hope for a future where forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change, contributing to a healthier planet for all.
