Massachusetts

Tri-City Forest Project

Holyoke, West Springfield, and Westfield are three towns that realize the impact of climate change and so came together to protect their combined 6,500-acre watershed lands consisting of hardwoods, spruce-fir, and other shrub species to sustainably capture and sequester large quantities of greenhouse gas.

Greenhouse Gasses
Reduced:

CO₂

Carbon Dioxide

Solution 15 in Drawdown – Afforestation

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What it does

Sequesters about 122,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year by protecting forests around critical watersheds and thus earns much-needed income from carbon rather than aggressively harvesting valuable trees. With sustainable forest management, this ideal forest ecosystem offers the least expensive natural filter for the drinking water that serves three cities.

How it works

Under the guidelines of the American Climate Registry, the Forest Stewardship Council, and the Massachusetts Water authorities, three Massachusetts cities, Holyoke, West Springfield, and Westfield, came together to aggregate and protect 6,500 acres of public forestland. Currently, the forest is managed for watershed services, timber production, and recreation. The forest consists of hardwoods and spruce fir, with a number of shrub species. By combining efforts, the communities shared up-front costs and then will share the proceeds among themselves depending on the percentage of carbon stock each city provides.

Benefits

Sequesters a significant number of carbon emissions each year
This carbon project provides an alternative financial incentive to cutting forests for local municipality–needed income
Protects and enhances habitat for a variety of large and small mammals, birds, and reptiles that are considered rare or threatened species
Protected lands provide flood control
Involvement of the Forest Stewardship Council means that the project has agreed to meet specific requirements of the council and will harvest the forest in a sustainable manner
Public outreach and education will play a role in the preservation of these forests

Challenges

Fire is always a risk for forests
Disease, pests, and invasive species can also affect forest growth and the ability of the forest to sequester carbon
More frequent extreme weather events and hurricanes can also impact the health and diversity of the forest
Annual reporting may not be available and measurable SDGs in addition to sequestering carbon for Climate, are likely to be limited to perhaps Clean Water and Life on Land. These latter benefits are not likely to measurably change over time.

Who it helps

The municipality, by providing an alternative source of income. Local mammals, birds, and reptiles. Local residents who use the area for recreation can enjoy continued unspoiled forest.

Why we chose this project

We actively look for excellent U.S. forest projects that protect trees that are continuously threatened by a search for new stands of timber for harvest; this is especially true when forests are located near urban areas. In addition to sequestering carbon, protecting water sources and improving forest management, the managers of Tri-Cities Forest project will seek to maintain conditions of recreational trails for usability and safety. Outreach, education, and interpretation are a part of the Mass-Cities Project mission, which are closely tied to the recreation opportunities available to the public and conservation of the associated regions.