Jennifer Wilson

Georgia has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about a third since 2005, and forests are doing a lot of the work.

Georgia has cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about a third since 2005, and forests are doing a lot of the work.

Georgia Tech researchers credit forests with storing around 27 percent of the state's emissions.

Georgia Tech researchers credit forests with storing around 27 percent of the state's emissions.

So Eadie, Johnson, and other experts started asking, why not use all that carbon storage to keep foresters in business?

So Eadie, Johnson, and other experts started asking, why not use all that carbon storage to keep foresters in business?

Yanshu Li is with the University of Georgia's Forestry School.

Yanshu Li is with the University of Georgia's Forestry School.

Lee is working to develop a local carbon market.

Lee is working to develop a local carbon market.

Landowners would take steps to increase or maintain the amount of carbon dioxide their forests store, replanting instead of selling to developers, or switching to carbon-friendly harvest methods.

Landowners would take steps to increase or maintain the amount of carbon dioxide their forests store, replanting instead of selling to developers, or switching to carbon-friendly harvest methods.

Then Georgia companies would buy carbon credits from the foresters to offset their own emissions.

Then Georgia companies would buy carbon credits from the foresters to offset their own emissions.

But that term Lee used, good quality, is key, because carbon credits are at something of a turning point, too.

But that term Lee used, good quality, is key, because carbon credits are at something of a turning point, too.

A carbon offset is basically a license to continue polluting.

A carbon offset is basically a license to continue polluting.

Kathy Fallon is with the Clean Air Task Force, which published a report last year showing that most forest carbon offset programs fall short.

Kathy Fallon is with the Clean Air Task Force, which published a report last year showing that most forest carbon offset programs fall short.