**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CENTRAL APPALACHIA HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL AND GLOBAL EFFORTS TO MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH CARBON PROGRAMS AND MARKETS. HOWEVER, FOR THE FOREST CARBON MARKET TO OFFER SYNERGISTIC ADVANCES IN MULTIPLE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS MUST WORK TOGETHER TO GUIDE THIS MARKET IN A RESEARCH-BASED DIRECTION THAT MEETS THESE GOALS. THEREFORE, THERE IS A NEED TO CONVENE DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS OF THE FOREST CARBON MARKET, AS WELL AS THE PRIORITIES FOR POLICYMAKING AND LANDOWNER ENGAGEMENT. THE CONFERENCE'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A VENUE FOR RESEARCHERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS AND SYNTHESIZE THE LATEST RESEARCH AND THE CURRENT AND EMERGING CHALLENGES OF THE CARBON MARKET TO ENSURE THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION AND EVOLUTION OF THIS MARKET. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE WILL CONVENE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SCIENTISTS AND STAKEHOLDERS (E.G., LANDOWNERS, FORESTERS, CARBON PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVES, NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND EXTENSION AGENTS) TO: 1. SHARE CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF FOREST CARBON SEQUESTRATION; 2. HIGHLIGHT CRITICAL UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT THE ECOLOGICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIO-POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE FOREST CARBON MARKET; 3. PUBLISH A FRAMEWORK OUTLINING THE KEY CHALLENGES AND THE PATHWAY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE FOREST CARBON MARKET; AND 4. DEVELOP MATERIALS (E.G., SHORT EXPLAINERS, OUTREACH BULLETINS, AND TRAINING MATERIALS) ABOUT FOREST MANAGEMENT AND CARBON MARKET OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES EXTENSION EDUCATORS IN THEIR LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL LANDOWNER OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WE WILL PRIORITIZE PANEL AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS FOR SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED SESSIONS.