Our approach to carbon-stewardship land management
Our contribution to climate action
Aurora buys historically industrial forestlands to restore forest health and rebuild resilient ecosystems. Our carbon-stewardship philosophy is reducing harvests by a minimum of 50 percent across our portfolio, resulting in thriving forests that support global goals, promote biodiversity, and contribute to clean air and water.
What is carbon stewardship?
Conservation is key
The global challenge
The climate is on pace to warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius over the course of the 21st century, within the next 80 years. Experts believe this shift will stress water and food supplies for billions of people as sea levels rise. At the same time, natural forests, one of our best tools for carbon removal are under threat. The United States is projected to permanently lose 12 million acres of forestland over the same period.
Aurora’s solution
Through our climate-smart management we are creating tangible benefits and results.
Forests with rich diversity of tree species and ages are more resilient against disease, pests, and wildfires. Carbon-first management, combined with the locations of our forests, ensure they are more protected from wildfire risk and will continue to capture carbon for generations.
Healthy forests provide many ways to engage with nature. Through our proactive conservation and management practices, we support families and adventurers of all kinds to forge deep, meaningful connections with the natural world.
Forests act as a natural filter for rivers and streams, purifying water as it flows through roots. Forested land provides the drinking water for nearly half of the population of the continental United States according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Healthy ecosystems are the backbone of essential economic systems like food, housing, recreation, and comfort. By addressing nature loss and climate change together, we enrich public health as well as quality of life. Aurora’s carbon projects help protect vital habitats, migration routes, and biodiversity; enriching opportunities for a healthier society.
Biodiversity on Aurora’s lands
Tree species
Mammal species
Bird species
Protecting tree growth
This image is rendered from the U.S. Forest Service’s forest vegetation simulator; a publicly available tool. We use this tool to calculate and forecast projected tree growth over a project’s duration. This is a simulation of expected forest growth at our Atlantic Pinelands site over the next forty years.
Subsurface and renewable energy opportunities
Renewable energy sources
The U.S. is undergoing a generational restructuring of its electricity generation and distribution infrastructure. Aurora’s portfolio offers many sites with access to transmission, wind, and solar resources. We welcome opportunities to partner with entities seeking sites to advance the decarbonization of America’s electricity grid.
Subsurface geologic carbon storage
Aurora offers carbon capture and underground sequestration (CCUS) sites to entities seeking long-term carbon sequestration. Our properties provide vent-stack carbon dioxide emissions storage solutions with both geologic carbon dioxide traps and deep saline aquifers. Our proximity to point-source carbon dioxide emissions give our customers access to single or multiple sites for permanent and secure storage of CO2 that would have otherwise gone into the atmosphere.
