South Carolina's Department of Natural Resources is spending $110,000 on a feasibility study to see if it can sell carbon credits from state forests, wildlife preserves, and conservation easements. The agency manages 1.6 million acres and wants to use the revenue to improve forest health. A consultant, Milliken Advisors, has until December 2026 to determine what land is eligible and whether the projects can meet international carbon credit standards. The study follows a precedent set by Norfolk Southern's Brosnan Forest project, which generated over $1 billion in carbon credit sales over 15 years. The agency is looking at improved forest management practices like reducing timber harvests and controlled burns to increase carbon storage. Tech companies and oil firms are among the biggest buyers of these credits. The outcome could create a new revenue stream for public land management in South Carolina.
