Problem

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Forest covers approximately 15,356 acres (6,214 hectares) in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, consisting of old-growth northern hardwood like maple and yellow birch, as well as hemlock and pines. With unsustainable forest management and commercial logging practices, the forest is facing severe environmental challenges that are threatening its biodiversity, carbon storage capacity, and the water quality in the region. On top of that, the Indigenous people who live in areas surrounding the forest and rely on these lands for their livelihood are also affected by these factors, impacting their ability to maintain economic, cultural and ecological balance.

Responses

KBIC Tribal Council, the governing body of KBIC, in 2020 voted to apply for a carbon development project in their tribal forest land, enrolling 16,500 acres (6677 hectares) of the forest, in an effort to transition from destructive forest management methodologies to long-term sustainable practices. The project is up and running, and is being developed in partnership with the carbon offset expert South Pole, as part of the Tribal Land Conservation Initiative  plan to use the funds generated to meet KBIC’s environmental vision.The project is supporting sustainable forest management while delivering multiple environmental and economic benefits, creating for example, new revenue streams for indigenous landowners through carbon credits. The carbon offset project is expected to sequester 890,000 metric tonnes of CO2 over the first ten years, contributing significantly to climate mitigation. Beyond carbon sequestration, by maintaining forests and recreational opportunities, the project is designed to provide sustainable co-benefits, such as protecting the habitat of endemic animals, improving water quality, enhancing the overall resilience of local ecosystems and bolstering tourism—a vital resource for the local economy.

Find out more: Keewenaw Bay Project