TROPICAL FORESTRY PRACTICES FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION 1 PEDRO MOURA-COSTA 2 Innoprise-Face Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project, Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Danum Valley Field Centre, PS 282, 91108 Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia. ABSTRACT Carbon sequestration through forestry has the potential to play a significant role in ameliorating global environmental problems such as atmospheric accumulation of GHG's and climate change. This chapter provides an overview of various aspects related to carbon sequestration through forestry. It describes the main concepts of carbon fixation; the trends in global environmental policy are discussed; different forestry practices are listed; examples of existing projects are given; and finally, a case study of a carbon sequestration project in Malaysia is described. The paper also discusses issues related to the quantification of carbon sequestration potential of different forestry options. This section was included with the intention of specifically highlighting some problems related to commercial transactions for carbon sequestration. Key words: carbon sequestration, CO 2 offset, tropical forestry, dipterocarps. INTRODUCTION Concern about rising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases [Wigley 1993] has prompted the search for methods of sequestering carbon in plant biomass. Due to cost effectiveness, high potential rates of carbon uptake, and associated environmental and social benefits, much attention has focused on promoting tropical forestry for offsetting carbon emissions [e.g. IPCC 1992]. This chapter has been written to provide an overview of various aspects related to carbon sequestration through forestry. It describes the main concepts of carbon fixation; the trends in global environmental policy are discussed; different forestry practices are listed; examples of existing projects are given; and finally, a case study of a carbon sequestration project in Malaysia is described. The paper also discusses issues related to the quantification of carbon sequestration potential of different 1 In: Dipterocarp Forest EcoSystems – Towards Sustainable Management. Schulte, A. & Schone, D. (Eds.). World Scientific, Singapore, 1996. Pp. 308-334.