What happens when the timber is harvested?
This depends on what the acquittal rules applying in the commitment period dictate. At the moment, the international rules on carbon accounting assume that when timber is harvested the carbon contained in the timber is instantaneously emitted into the atmosphere, even though the actual place of emissions may be in another country. Unless the rules are changed, it is likely forestry growers will have to account for carbon emissions at harvest. This may require forestry growers to purchase carbon permits. To avoid such purchases, they will have to ensure there are sufficient new Kyoto-consistent plantings to offset the carbon emitted at harvest. This means that carbon pool managers must ensure that the carbon integrity of their pools is maintained. Forest managers will seek to optimise returns from carbon and timber values. The incentives in Article 3.3 of the Protocol are for new forests to be planted and for the carbon to remain sequestered, rather than being released back into the atm
