© Nick Hall for TNC

A Path Forward: The Proven Benefits and Bipartisan Backing of Natural Climate Solutions

In an era where political discourse is driven more by conflict than collaboration, there are few ideas that bring Americans together like Natural Climate Solutions (NCS). These solutions are actions that reduce emissions and increase carbon storage in forests, farms, grasslands, and wetlands, including efforts to employ techniques that retain carbon in soil, conserving and …

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Sequestering Carbon Through Conversation and Community Burning: Converting Forest Fuels to Biochar 

We all enjoy telling stories around a campfire, but what if that campfire was also a tool to improve timber practices and reduce carbon emissions? The Lands Council partnered with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and others on a pilot project to reduce forest fuels and transform them to beneficial biochar. These pilot burns were …

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The City of Burlington Goes To The Head of the Class in Implementing Natural Climate Solutions

In Burlington, Vermont, packs of kids from Champlain Elementary School fan out to local parks gathering acorns, ash samaras, and birch seed. They’re taking the problem of climate action into their own hands. Everyone knows that trees are good for cities and good for our climate, but most cities need good locations to plant trees …

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Harnessing the Power of Family Forests for Climate and Conservation

Our family has always shared a mutual love of the outdoors. When we purchased an old 187-acre farm on a wooded property in 2020, little did I know that it would ignite a journey of forest stewardship. My dad wanted to plant and sell Christmas trees and start a vineyard, and my mom wanted to …

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MANO Project: Building A Diverse Workforce to Tackle Climate Change

“Eventually, climate change will affect all of us, because climate change doesn’t discriminate. We need to prepare ecosystems. A call to action that is not only driven by our personal gain, but more so for providing a sustainable future for generations to come.” Gabriel Van Praag, Civilian Climate Corp Fellow, MANO Project The Latino community …

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City of Trees Challenge: A Tree-Focused Climate Solution  

From filtering the air we breathe to offering shade and serving as habitat for wildlife, trees provide countless benefits to people and nature alike. Scientists have also identified ways trees help address climate change as a part of natural climate solutions through reducing greenhouse gases and sequestering carbon. “We’ve got to act now if we’re …

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Innovative Biocrust Restoration Technique Offers Hope in Warming Climate

When you mention biological soil crusts (also known as biocrusts) to Dr. Sasha Reed, her eyes light up and a smile widens across her face. For the last 15 years, this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biogeochemist has been on the ground and in the lab studying these soil communities that, while small, have big potential …

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Partnerships for Developing ‘Forever Green’ Agriculture in the Upper Midwest

The seeds of a new agricultural system are sprouting in Minnesota, one that can fight climate change using profitable new crops that keep agricultural lands covered with green, living plants year-round. Crops ranging from perennial Intermediate Wheatgrass (producing Kernza® perennial grain) to new winter annual “cash cover crops” such as winter camelina, pennycress, and winter …

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Collaborative Program Drives Climate Solutions on U.S. Dairy Farms

Cheese, yogurt, butter… dairy is a long-time diet staple and integral to a vast number of food cultures worldwide. In the United States, dairy consumption has been on the rise for decades, while the number of U.S. dairy farms has steadily declined. Today, there are fewer than 30,000 U.S. dairy farms, and each has an …

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