California's Forest Carbon Offsets Burn in Wildfires, Exposing Flaws in Cap-and-Trade

Wildfires in Oregon and Washington have destroyed tens of thousands of acres enrolled in California's forest-carbon offset program, wiping out millions of dollars in credits used by companies to meet state climate mandates. Projects like Opal Mountain and Colville lost large portions of their land, and the buffer pool meant to cover such losses is already depleted. This raises serious questions about the durability of forest-based offsets and whether California's approach delivers real climate benefits. The article highlights that some projects received special state designations despite high fire risk, and that reduced active management may increase flammability. With nearly 80,000 acres burned this year, the program's credibility is under strain. For anyone tracking carbon markets or climate policy, this is a key case study on why offset quality and risk assessment matter.