Flathead Ridge Ranch Forest, USA

Aggressive harvesting regimes are common in Montana. They are motivated by high returns from activities that harvest large areas of the forest at once. This reduces carbon sequestration and results in regions of the forest dominated by trees of the same age which negatively impacts nearby flora and fauna.

The project implements sustainable forest management across a 121,000-acre project area in Montana and encourages multi-age stands of trees as opposed to clear-cutting. Allowing mature trees to achieve larger sizes whilst also establishing the regeneration of native seedlings rehabilitates the degraded forest and increases carbon stocks.

By increasing the variety and complexity of the forest landscape over time, the project promotes the forest’s health as well as lessens wildfire risks in the area. Maintaining the forest also reduces land erosion, decreases source water pollution, and restores the habitats of local wildlife.

In addition to delivering emission reductions and removals to help take urgent action to combat climate change (SDG 13), Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects in North America contribute to other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering multiple benefits:

• Clean Water and Sanitation: IFM projects that shift from production to conservation protect and improve water-related forest ecosystems, enhancing water quality and water retention. Conservation practices reduce soil erosion and act as a buffer for nitrate leakage from surrounding agriculture. 
• Life on Land: IFM activities contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation and forest protection. Shifting from production to conservation helps avoid forest loss, while reduced impact logging contributes to higher species richness and biodiversity.