Skip links

sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin – Improved Forest Management Project

Newsletter Sign-Up

Dataroom Hosted by Microsoft™ Sharepoint

Dataroom Login

sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin

IFMs & Carbon Credits

The Language of Carbon Projects

To understand the work sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin aims to accomplish, it’s helpful to become familiar with these terms:

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide as biomass in the soil and trees by way of photosynthesis. It’s one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, with an ultimate goal of mitigating global climate change.

The official term used to describe activities resulting in increased carbon sequestration within forests, and/or reduced greenhouse gas emissions when compared to business-as-usual forestry practices, referring to both:

    1. The techniques utilized by a forestry project, e.g. “sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin uses IFM techniques in all projects”; and”; and
    2. The classification of a forestry project by the Verra Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Program and other verifying bodies that certifies a project to generate carbon credits, e.g. “sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin is an IFM project.

A carbon trading mechanism that enables entities such as governments or corporations to compensate for (“offset”) their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in IFM projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions elsewhere.

The tradeable certificate an entity receives when they invest in an IFM project. One carbon credit represents the reduction, avoidance or removal of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide (or its equivalent) from the atmosphere. The dollar value of a carbon credit is reassessed annually and may change depending on the current evaluated “cost” of climate change, as well as other factors detailed under “Market Valuation.”

sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin is a verified Improved Forest Management (IFM) project. The carbon credits generated by each Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation community, which are highly valued and in demand, can be sold to entities needing to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. PBCN’s communities retain 100% ownership and control of the project.

All of the forest photographs you see across the website are of PBCN’s own trees: carbon-sucking, life-breathing giants!

Improved Forest Management

sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin prioritizes three goals in meeting the conditions of a certified IFM project:

Not only do IFM activities aim to support forest health in order to store carbon, they’re also careful to not create more emissions in the process. Activities that support the reduction of carbon emissions include but are not limited to:

  • Minimizing the necessity of controlled burning;
  • Decreasing the likelihood of wildfires and other natural disturbances through fuel load treatments (reducing the amount of combustible material in the project area); and
  • Utilizing Green technologies that emit as few greenhouse gases as possible.

Many IFM activities yield immediate positive results in terms of the forest’s capacity to store carbon, accomplished by:

  • Planting new trees in sparser areas; and
  • Harvesting strategically (mature stands most susceptible to wildfire, blow-down, and disease, unless Traditional Knowledge deems them necessary to protect) to reduce regeneration delays.

A guiding principle of IFM projects is the consideration of sustainability for 100 years or more into the future, or in the case of sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin, seven generations forward. The IFM activities that ensure this long-term sustainability are:

  • Immediately replanting harvested areas to increase forest cover, protect communities from wildfires and flooding, increase habitat and biodiversity, and protect species-at-risk and of importance;
  • Increasing the use of fire on the landscape as determined by Traditional Knowledge of the practice;
  • Increasing the proportion of long-lived wood products (lumber and plywood used to build houses, furniture, and other products meant to last) as opposed to short-lived wood products (pulp and paper); and
  • The establishment of conservation areas.

Outside of these goals, IFM projects produce countless co-benefits, including but not limited to:

  • Establishing forests that are more resilient to the impacts of climate change;
  • Improved forest ecosystems to help native plants and animals thrive;
  • Implementation of culturally sensitive land management practices that adhere to Traditional Knowledge; and
  • Ongoing employment opportunities for local contractors and members of the participating communities.

Testimonial

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin adheres to the recommendations outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as Canada’s response to the SDGs, the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). These initiatives aim to address pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges across the globe to create a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world for all. Click here to read all 17 SDGs, and see the table below to learn about those most significant to sakâhk papakîtitâmôwin, as well as the impact they have nationally and locally.

E-WEB-Goal-08

United Nations SDG

8 – Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

8.2 – Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Goal 8: Encourage inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Canada.

PBCN Outcome

The project increases regional job opportunities and generates additional sources of income for PBCN members and people from surrounding rural and remote communities.

E-WEB-Goal-10

United Nations SDG

10 – Reduce inequality within and among countries.

10.2 – By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action to reduce inequality.

PBCN Outcome

The project promotes reconciliation by providing social and economic opportunities to PBCN members, including women, youth, and other marginalized members of the population.

 

It also empowers PBCN’s communities to manage and care for the land, and capitalize on the economic opportunities arising from that caretaking.

E-WEB-Goal-13

United Nations SDG

13 – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

13.1 – Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
OR
13.2 – Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts.

PBCN Outcome

The project allows PBCN to make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation by increasing carbon sequestration.

E-WEB-Goal-15

United Nations SDG

15 – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

15.5 – Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy

Goal 15: Protect and recover species, conserve Canadian biodiversity.

PBCN Outcome

The project contributes to forest restoration, conservation, and maintenance, wildfire management and mitigation outcomes, and increased biodiversity and consideration of species at risk.