Quantum Commodity Intelligence
Interview by Hope Raymond
“IFM is having a bit of its own spotlight right now.”
— Michael Casey, Vice President of Partnerships, NativState
Improved forest management (IFM) is moving to the center of the US forest carbon market as new demand signals reshape buyer behavior.
After years of afforestation, reforestation and restoration projects dominating the nature-based solutions conversation, buyers are increasingly turning toward improved forest management, or IFM, as they work to secure credible supply ahead of their 2030 targets.
NativState is helping drive this shift by aggregating small and medium-sized private landowners into IFM and afforestation projects registered under the ACR standard.
Why IFM is gaining momentum
- Supply certainty
Experienced buyers are moving from annual spot purchases toward multi-year offtake agreements and portfolio-based buying.
- Scalable removals
ARR projects can take years to scale and issue credits. IFM is increasingly viewed as an important complement for meeting current demand.
- Stronger carbon accounting
Dynamic baselines and Core Carbon Principles labels are helping increase confidence in the quality and credibility of IFM credits.
Preparing for scale
NativState plans to exceed one million acres in its voluntary portfolio by 2027 and could eventually work with more than 1,000 land-owning entities.
With dynamic baselines, CCP approval and SBTi alignment converging as buyers face growing 2030 pressure, IFM is emerging as one of the most immediately scalable nature-based options.