Carbon Projects

Balancing Conservation & Opportunity.
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Overview

Chugach’s participation in carbon offset projects reflects a balanced approach to land stewardship: responsibly using Chugach lands to create long-term value for shareholders while protecting the ecosystems, subsistence resources, and cultural places that define our region.  

Chugach stewards over a million acres of ancestral lands across the wild coastlines, forests, and islands of Prince William Sound and the northern Gulf of Alaska.  

Participating in California’s carbon program enables a “new chapter” in how Chugach manages forests to generate shareholder benefit while upholding environmental stewardship.  

In 2014, Chugach advocated for Alaska’s inclusion in California’s program, helping open participation for other Alaska Native Corporations as well.  

Since 2020, Chugach has sold more than 6.4 million California Carbon Offsets from more than 50,000 acres.  

Bering River Coal Field: Conservation with Long-Term Value 

In 2017, Chugach announced a landmark agreement to sell and permanently retire coal development rights in the Bering River Coal Field, while creating long-term income through forest carbon.  

Under the agreement, Chugach sold its Bering River coal rights to New Forests. Those rights were retired by transferring them to The Nature Conservancy and the Native Conservancy Land Trust, including a restrictive covenant against development. Chugach then actively manages and maintains the land to retain high carbon stocks, enabling the sale of carbon credits to businesses regulated under California’s greenhouse gas pollution reduction program.  

How Carbon Supports Stewardship 

Chugach’s forest carbon work creates non-extractive income by keeping forests intact and carbon-rich through long-term, responsible management.  

This approach is part of a broader commitment that includes protecting fish and wildlife habitat essential for subsistence, hunting, fishing, recreation, and traditional land uses. 

Shareholders & Community Impact

Profits generated through the Bering River coal rights sale and carbon projects are used to create benefits and opportunities for Chugach shareholders and descendants, including dividends, job opportunities, and a $30 million contribution to the Chugach Heritage Foundation endowment.

Conservation Outcomes

Chugach’s participation has supported placing thousands of acres into permanent conservation, safeguarding habitat and contributing to ecosystem restoration, including areas affected by past environmental crises.  

Partnership & Policy Engagement 

Chugach recognizes the work of the California Forest Carbon Coalition and appreciates California legislators who have championed forest carbon programs, emphasizing that forward-looking policy can benefit communities far beyond state borders.