King County, WA: Forest Carbon Program

Program Title: Forest Carbon Program

Year Adopted: 2019

City: King County, WA

Main Citation: “Forest Carbon Program.” King County, Washington.

Description:

King County's Forest Carbon Program is an effort to protect urban and regional forests while tackling climate change. Through preserving at-risk forests and generating carbon credits, the program helps fund land conservation, expand green spaces, and support healthier urban environments.

Launched in 2019, the initiative allows businesses to offset their carbon emissions by investing in forest conservation. This not only helps fight climate change but also ensures that communities, particularly in urban areas, continue to benefit from trees that provide shade, improve air quality, and manage stormwater. The program plays a key role in the county’s Land Conservation Initiative, a 30-year plan to safeguard 65,000 acres of vital green space.

So far, the program has generated around 65,000 carbon credits, raising $850,000 for conservation efforts. Companies like Microsoft have purchased these credits, directly supporting forest protection. King County has also identified 1,500 acres of priority urban forests for preservation and is working with cities to secure these lands. The first purchase in 2019 added 15 acres to Soaring Eagle Regional Park near Sammamish, WA.

Key benefits of the program include:

- Protecting urban tree canopy, ensuring access to green spaces in developed areas.

- Improving air and water quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and cooling cities.

- Supporting wildlife habitats, maintaining crucial ecosystems.

- Enhancing community health, providing shaded parks, recreation areas, and nature access.

Impact:

King County’s Forest Carbon Program creates financial incentives for retaining mature trees on private lands, demonstrating a best practice for urban tree protection. By allowing businesses to purchase carbon credits, the program generates funding that directly supports the preservation of at-risk forests. This model ensures that private landowners see economic value in maintaining mature trees, rather than removing them for development. Revenue from credit sales helps protect urban tree canopy, improve air and water quality, and expand accessible green spaces. By integrating financial incentives with conservation efforts, the program provides a replicable approach to sustaining urban forests long-term.

Additional Resources:

King County, WA: Forest Carbon Program

City Forest Credits: King County, WA

“King County TDR (Transfer of Development Rights) [Film].” Biophilic Cities.