Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project

The Niagara Escarpment Forest Carbon Project (NEFCP) is publicly listed on the CSA CleanProjects Registry and has been 3rd party verified under ISO-14064-2 by Carbon Consult Group. This project promotes and maintains the function and diversity of ecosystems along Ontario’s Niagara escarpment. The Niagara escarpment stretches from Niagara Falls towards Tobermory, and extends along Manitoulin Island. Conditions within the properties managed by the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy (EBC) vary significantly and range from very productive forestland, to open grasslands, to Alvar conditions with shallow soils.

The EBC is a registered charity whose mission is to maintain, enhance or restore areas of native species or natural habitat, and to encourage and support scientific research and educational services related thereto. The EBC also educates the public about conservation and preservation of the landscape, ecology and wildlife of the Niagara Escarpment partly through providing low impact, ecologically sustainable recreational opportunities.

This project promotes and maintains forest cover, as well as ecosystem function, in areas where local activities (e.g. logging, mineral extraction, severances, etc.) increase pressures on land and wildlife. Establishing tree growth in these areas will contribute to carbon capture, and enhance biodiversity in the area. Project achievements include, 80,000 tCO2e of carbon reductions achieved between 2002 and 2016, protection of rare species, biodiversity, and geological features in their natural condition, encourages sustainable low-impact recreation, and protection of featured species such as, Pileated Woodpecker, Painted Turtle, and Great Grey Owl.