Patricia Amero

When Patricia Amero walks around the Acadian forests of eastern Canada where she lives, she sees more than the potential for timber sales.  As the general manager of the Western Woodlot Services Cooperative, Amero helps landowners in the Maritime Provinces decide where and when to cut trees to sell for timber — and how to make their forests healthier and more productive. To make income off forested land, clear-cutting it is one of the main options available to Maritimes forest owners. But Amero says some owners are interested in other options, like getting paid to store carbon and help fight climate change — and getting that funding through carbon offsets purchased by companies. Carbon offsets are gaining popularity as a climate solution around the world, particularly because more companies and countries are making big promises to achieve net-zero carbons emissions. Amero sees these offsets as a potential way to help Maritimes woodlot owners