Cherokee Forest

United States

The Cherokee Forest project preserves the forest and its ecosystems by prohibiting their exploitation.

Project

summary

In 2010, the United States had 252 Mha of natural forest, extending over 29% of its land area. In 2020, it lost 1.59 Mha of natural forest, equivalent to 683 MtCO2e.

This improved forest management project is located on 4,300 acres of mixed hardwoods, oak-hickory, cove forest, and oak-pine in northeast Tennessee. This contiguous parcel is used as a conservation and recreation-based property.

The park’s management plan and governance are designed to preserve the mountain’s forest habitat while also stimulating recreation-based tourism in an economically at-risk region.

Find out how our last audit on the ground went in this article!

Certified

Under

Aligning with

the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

The project plays a vital role in protecting freshwater systems in the project area, protecting the surrounding ecosystems.

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

The project reduces emissions through enhanced carbon sequestration relative to baseline forest management. It creates a better, more sustainable forest in the region that can support healthy wildlife and be enjoyed by recreationists for many years to come.

SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

The Cherokee Forest project provides a sustainable and protected habitat for 40 rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species.

The result

The project allows the forest to progress naturally with no commercial harvesting;
Wildlife on site benefit from contiguous, undisturbed forest that hosts several different forested types throughout;
Wildlife present on site include deer, black bear, turkeys, and many mountain bird and mammal species;
The forests around the river act as natural water filters and purify the water for all who use it;
Over the 20-year life of the project, it will sequester about 38,000 tCO2e annually.