Reflecting on a Summer Immersed in Carbon Markets by Allyah Keith

Walking through the Hood River County Tree Farm while assisting with a forest inventory, I gained a more profound appreciation for the role trees play in our environment. Standing in front of a giant 100 ft tree, being a little over 5 feet tall myself, I realized how my work over the past 10 weeks as a forestry fellow ties into the broader impact of land stewardship and carbon sequestration. To many, a tree might simply be a tree, but in the context of ecosystem services and carbon markets, trees are vital for sequestering and storing carbon in a world grappling with excess carbon emissions.

Throughout the day we followed the inventory crew from plot to plot to determine a variety of tree species, diameter measurements, in/out calls with a prism and measuring tape and reviewing any discrepancies with the crew to ensure consistency across the inventory. These data are foundational ingredients for establishing initial stocking on the new carbon project, modeling the carbon sequestration benefits of improved forest management, and preparing projects for crediting and sale in the voluntary carbon market. Working alongside TCT staff present at this inventory, Forest Carbon Manager Madeline Montague who oversaw training and check cruising, and Business Development Manager Jared O’Shaughnessy, who was there to fully understand our forestry projects and share that insight and understanding with credit purchasers, helped me understand the data needed to quantify carbon storage and how necessary each were to the overall carbon stocking accounting. The knowledge gained through this experience will help me apply my newfound forestry knowledge to a career in natural climate solutions.

For over 26 years, The Climate Trust has led the way in developing projects that advance progress in the voluntary carbon market. TCT’s mission to pioneer accessible carbon market solutions through effective land stewardship was a central theme of my summer fellowship. Over the past 10 weeks, I explored the intersection of natural climate solutions with my own passions for natural resource conservation and environmental justice, especially through their Tribal forestry initiatives. Through participating on calls with agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, corporate sustainability teams, and frequent meetings with TCT operations, grassland, and forestry teams, I gained technical knowledge of the high impact areas for carbon storage. I traveled to the Pacific Northwest for the first time ever, for the annual Land Camp conference stemming from conservation and the Bloomberg Green Festival regarding collaborative climate solutions. In addition, I was able to get a certification in GIS Foundations through a 4- week course shared to me by a TCT staff member; developing a new skill!

I am grateful to have had the chance to work with TCT this summer along with their outstanding and kind leaders who are fostering a community of high-quality projects that support landowners in better stewardship in grasslands and forestry contexts. As I continue to grow in the natural climate solutions career space, I know I am equipped with the skills and resources to contribute positively to a carbon neutral society being amongst the next generation of changemakers contributing to a greener world.