Rainforest Alliance

The Afognak Forest Carbon Project covers 3,326.5 ha (8,219.7 acres) of adjacent or proximal parcels located on the North coast (Perenosa Bay/Delphin Bay area) of Afognak Island, Alaska United States.  The Afognak project area is a low elevation coastal temperate rainforest that has a uniform forest cover made up entirely of Sitka Spruce, interspersed with lakes, ponds, and various wetlands and small streams. The forest is either undisturbed 180-250 year old native old growth, and cutover areas are in various stages of natural regeneration <20 years old.

The American Land Conservancy (ALC) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) acquired the Afognak Carbon project properties and related timber rights from the privately owned Alaskan Native Corporations (Afognak Joint Venture, Shuyak, Inc., and Uganik Natives, Inc.) over the period of 2005-2009, with the objective of conserving the land in perpetuity. As part of these transactions, ALC/RMEF specifically retained the carbon legal title rights and right of use for the purpose of a carbon emissions reduction project; attached a permanent federal conservation easement to ensure perpetual conservation management; and transferred the remaining surface title rights to the State of Alaska. Camco International Group is the representative of the Project Proponents (ACL & RMEF).

The Afognak Forest Carbon Project achieves net GHG emission reductions and removals through the avoidance of emissions due to expected logging activities. The Afognak properties were being managed for timber production by the previous managers, with existing or pending logging plans in place across these and adjacent properties owned by the previous owners. The project activities retain the current native and naturally regenerating logged forests in perpetuity to retain and sequester carbon on the property.