(607NewsNow) — Family forest owners in the area now have a way to keep their woods thriving while earning extra income. Through the Family Forest Carbon Program, property owners with at least 30 acres of eligible forest can enroll to receive payments for managing their land in ways that improve forest health.

Here’s how it works: once you enroll in the program, a forester (your own trusted forester or an FFCP staff or consulting forester) will work with you to create a forest management plan. This plan will include actions like letting trees grow longer between harvests, controlling invasive species, or protecting young growth. Managing forests like this make them healthier, which means they’re better at capturing and storing carbon, reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That additional carbon stored in your trees can be measured and quantified, then ultimately sold as a “carbon credit” to entities who are working to reduce their carbon emissions. The sale of credits helps fund the payments to participating families. However, these annual payments are guaranteed regardless of credit sales or how much carbon is generated. The Family Forest Carbon Program assumes any risk in the carbon market while ensuring that forest owners are paid.

For many landowners, this can mean thousands of dollars over a 20-year contract, paid out annually. Participants can use the funds however they want, whether that’s covering their taxes, buying new equipment, making improvements to the land, or even taking a much-deserved vacation.

Since launching in 2020, the program has enrolled more than 1,200 landowners and over 150,000 acres of forest land. And with over 20 million acres of privately-owned forest land in New York, many landowners across the state are eligible.

Local foresters say it’s a win for everyone: “Trees clean our air and water, prevent erosion, and provide wildlife habitat. Taking part in the program is one small way to make a big impact.”

To learn if your land qualifies and to book a no-obligation call with a program representative, visit familyforestcarbon.org.