Section 12-6-221. Definitions

   As used in this article, the term:

   (1) "Carbon sequestration results" means the participant's applicable data on the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by sinks resulting from:

      (A) Direct human-induced land use change or forestry activities in this state;

      (B) Additional human-induced activities in this state related to removal by sinks in land use change and forestry categories;

      (C) Additional human-induced activities in this state related to removal by sinks in agricultural soils;

      (D) Additional human-induced activities in this state related to removals by sinks in products in use from harvested timber or agricultural crops; and

      (E) Other human-induced activities in this state related to removals by sinks.

   (2) "Certification" means the determination of whether a given participant's carbon sequestration result has met a minimum quality standard and complied with an appropriate set of approved procedures and protocols for submitting carbon sequestration information.

   (3) "Commission" means the State Forestry Commission.

   (4) "Director" means the director of the State Forestry Commission.

   (5) "Forest" means lands that support, or can support, at least 10 percent tree canopy cover and that allow for management of one or more forest resources including but not limited to timber, fish and wildlife, biodiversity, water quality, air quality, soil conservation, recreation, aesthetics, or other benefits.

   (6) "Greenhouse gases" means carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.

   (7) "Native forest" means a forest type, natural or artificially regenerated, composed of any one or more tree species identified as native to this state in G. Norman Bishop, Native Trees of Georgia (Georgia Forestry Commission 2000 revised edition), including without limitation improved stock of such tree species developed through breeding programs.

   (8) "Participant" or "registry participant" means a registrant of carbon sequestration results with the registry.

   (9) "Registry" means the Georgia Carbon Sequestration Registry provided for by this article.

   (10) "Sink" means an ecosystem or crop or product thereof that absorbs or has absorbed carbon, thereby removing it from the atmosphere and offsetting emissions of carbon dioxide.

Code 1981, § 12-6-221, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 343, § 1.