Category: Policy

Harnessing Blue Carbon: A Natural Solution to Climate Change and Coastal Resilience

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • Importance of Blue Carbon Ecosystems: Blue carbon ecosystems, such as seagrasses, salt marshes, tidal forests, and mangroves, can play a key role in mitigating climate change due to their high carbon sequestration capabilities, surpassing that of tropical forests.
  • Multifaceted Benefits: Beyond carbon storage, blue carbon ecosystems provide numerous co-benefits, including protection from extreme weather, water quality improvement, wildlife habitat preservation, and economic advantages for coastal communities.
  • Scientific Efforts and Collaboration: Scientists at institutions like the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) are at the forefront of blue carbon research, working to advance scientific understanding and supporting state efforts to integrate blue carbon solutions into their climate mitigation plans.
  • Policy and Data Stewardship: Robust data collection, stewardship, and sharing are critical for informing policy and enhancing state-level greenhouse gas inventories. Investments in data infrastructure and collaboration through networks like the Coastal Carbon Network are essential for effective blue carbon management.
  • Community Engagement and Action: Engaging and empowering local communities is vital for the success of blue carbon initiatives. Educating coastal residents about the benefits of blue carbon ecosystems and providing opportunities for community action can enhance resilience and drive meaningful change.

Blue carbon ecosystems, including seagrasses, salt marshes, tidal forests, and mangroves, are increasingly recognized as powerful nature-based solutions for mitigating climate change, also known as Natural Climate Solutions. These ecosystems can play a crucial role in sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One study estimated that each acre of coastal wetland can sequester ten times more carbon than tropical forests. In addition, blue carbon strategies offer numerous co-benefits, such as enhanced resilience to storms and flooding, improved water quality, protection of wildlife—including commercially and recreationally valuable fish populations—economic advantages for coastal communities, and the preservation of areas important for cultural and spiritual practices. A recent survey conducted by U.S. Nature4Climate found that 92% of voters across party lines strongly support restoring coastal wetlands to reduce flood risks, provide wildlife habitat, and help address climate change. This widespread public backing highlights the growing recognition of these strategies as essential components in the fight against climate change. The combined climate mitigation potential and significant co-benefits provided by coastal blue carbon habitats are key reasons why states like Oregon, Louisiana, Maine, California, New Jersey, and North Carolina are harnessing blue carbon solutions into their climate change mitigation plans.

At the forefront of this crucial work is the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC), where dedicated scientists are uncovering the mysteries of blue carbon and its significance in addressing climate change. The U.S. Nature4Climate team spoke with scientist Jaxine Wolfe from SERC to learn more about their efforts to advance blue carbon and help states utilize it to meet their greenhouse gas reduction goals while delivering multiple benefits to communities.

The Importance of Blue Carbon as a Natural Climate Solution

“Wetlands are really excellent at a lot of things. They’re culturally significant, nursery habitat for commercial species of fish and crab, a place for refuge, nesting for waterfowl, and they provide storm surge protection and help absorb runoff,” Wolfe explained, highlighting the multifaceted value of these ecosystems beyond carbon storage. It’s essential to support the communities who rely on and benefit from these ecosystems. Thousands of people live in coastal areas, making it crucial to involve them in efforts to enhance their resilience against increasingly frequent and intense storms. “The educational aspect cannot be overstated because these are people’s backyards, and these communities will be the ones most vulnerable and impacted,” Wolfe stated. Additionally, empowering these communities to take action is vital. “Once people are aware, the next question often is, ‘What can I do? I want to help but feel powerless.’ It’s essential to create more opportunities to lower the barriers to community action towards protecting and restoring wetlands,” she emphasized. “This makes the whole effort stronger because people can directly connect to it and say, ‘I did that’ or ‘I advocated for that. Now we have living shorelines in our neighborhood instead of just gray infrastructure.'”

The Lightning Point project in Alabama serves as a model for nature-based solutions to climate impacts, demonstrating how coastal communities can be protected and enhanced through investments in coastal wetland restoration.
Now almost four years post construction, the project has buffered Bayou la Batre from five named storms, protecting the shoreline, working waterfront, and minimizing impacts to the community and businesses.
The restoration project demonstrated significant economic and ecosystem benefits, with a triple return on investment over 25 years. By enhancing tidal marsh and scrub-shrub habitats, the project not only provided valuable ecosystem services but also boosted eco-tourism and recreational opportunities, contributing to the local economy and quality of life. Photos by Alita Films.

Learn more about the Lightning Point Restoration Project

“Leveraging these ecosystems and how we find solutions using natural ecosystems to mitigate climate change impacts is really important. While they may not be the silver bullet, they’re a very important piece of the puzzle, and I think that they can do a lot for us. There are a lot of great infrastructure solutions coming online for climate mitigation, but we have natural ecosystems right here that can help us. There may be an initial investment to restore a degraded wetland, but that investment pays for itself over time. We need to have that long view.”

Jaxine Wolfe

“If we conserve, restore, or create these ecosystems and continue to treat them well, they’ll take care of themselves, and we don’t need to plug them in or charge them or mine resources to fuel them, for them to provide the ecosystem services that they do. Carbon capture is only one of these benefits, but I think maintaining that total ecosystem perspective is really, really important,” Wolfe added.

The Coastal Carbon Network: Bridging Science and Policy

“The Coastal Carbon Network is a consortium of coastal wetland scientists and practitioners in coastal land management,” explained Jaxine Wolfe. The network aims to accelerate discoveries in coastal wetland carbon science and improve ecosystem management. Wolfe emphasized the importance of a robust data foundation to inform policy and predict how these ecosystems will respond to future climate scenarios. “We build that foundation by facilitating the sharing of open data and analysis products,” she said, highlighting the network’s commitment to community feedback and stakeholder involvement. To accomplish this, the Coastal Carbon Network developed the Coastal Carbon Atlas, an interactive web application that “democratizes access to carbon stock and sequestration data for tidal wetlands worldwide, including marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds”. Researchers and curious minds can explore, query, and download data from these critical ecosystems.

Another key initiative of the Coastal Carbon Network is the Blue Carbon Inventory Report Card. The report card assesses the quantity, quality, and coverage of data available in different states, providing a baseline for blue carbon assessments. “We provide recommendations for individual states on where data coverage is lacking,” Wolfe noted. This tool helps states understand their data needs and improve their data collection efforts to support blue carbon initiatives. Wolfe concluded, “The report card shows a state’s baseline and where improvements can be made in data coverage,” highlighting the network’s role in enhancing blue carbon data and supporting informed decision-making for coastal ecosystem management.

Resources provided by the Coastal Carbon Network:

Download the latest report on State of the Data: United States Blue Carbon Data Report

Strategies for States to Enhance Blue Carbon Assessments

Wolfe emphasized the critical need for investing in data stewardship to improve state blue carbon rankings and enhance greenhouse gas inventories. She advises states to allocate specific resources or funding for these efforts, making it a dedicated line item in their budgets. “Investing in data stewardship is crucial for building capacity to integrate coastal wetlands into greenhouse gas inventories,” she stated. Wolfe explained that data limitations often hinder progress and stressed the importance of political discussions to facilitate this investment, noting that providing context and understanding can garner necessary support.

Additionally, Wolfe highlighted the importance of preserving existing data and targeting new data collection to improve coverage. “We need to establish baselines for restoration and understand how ecosystems are changing,” Wolfe explained. Engaging stakeholders and finding common ground is also crucial for success. “Finding common ground and recognizing that data will guide us is essential,” she said. Targeted data collection should address gaps and enhance the comprehensiveness of blue carbon assessments, leading to better-informed decision-making and policy development.

Wolfe shared examples of successful utilization of Coastal Carbon Network resources by other states. “Pew, Silvestrum Climate Associates, and other Pacific Northwest researchers have used the database to develop white papers and influence policy,” Wolfe mentioned. For instance, the California Air Resources Board, working with the state’s Natural Resources Agency, leveraged  findings from SERC’s data inventory efforts to encourage inclusion of coastal wetland habitats into their proposed climate change scoping plan. North Carolina’s Coastal Habitats Greenhouse Gas working group also cited the network’s work in their interim report in 2022 for the state’s first coastal habitat greenhouse gas inventory.

Wolfe highlighted the network’s collaboration with Silvestrum Climate Associates to update the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, integrating new studies and estimates of carbon accumulation rates for vegetated coastal ecosystems. This update resulted in a significant increase in soil accumulation rates. “Between 1990 and 2022, the annual average increase in removals was 2.3 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent,” Wolfe proudly shared, equating this to the mass of 15,000 blue whales over the entire time series. She emphasized the ongoing development of new tools, such as an inventory calculator, to provide more accessible and summarized data for stakeholders.

Overcoming Data Challenges in Coastal Carbon Science

Wolfe and the team at SERC face significant challenges in creating resources for the Coastal Carbon Atlas due to data inaccessibility and varying data-sharing cultures. “Often, the data exists but is not accessible,” Wolfe explained, noting that valuable information is frequently locked away in publications or on individual hard drives. This issue is compounded by researchers’ limited bandwidth or reluctance to share data due to personal investment. Wolfe stressed that “data sharing is built on trust,” and overcoming these challenges involves building strong relationships and ensuring researchers receive proper credit.

“The Smithsonian is known for its curation of an archive of historical artifacts and connecting this history to present day and making these resources accessible in a way that promotes learning and action. To me, data is also a historical artifact. It’s our record of these ecosystems. We are the conveners of that. We’re the librarians, in a sense. Each data set is like a book or a record, a snapshot, a moment in time. Putting all this information together allows us to have a more enriched understanding of these ecosystems. That’s why our database is referred to as the data library.”

Jaxine Wolfe

To address these issues, Wolfe and her team actively reach out to researchers to help archive and publish their data. “We were able to drum up some small funds internally to work with individual researchers at various institutions that had a lot of data that was not publicly available,” she said. Collaborating with researchers and students, they have published around 19 different datasets covering aspects such as carbon stock and accumulation rates. This effort not only makes the data accessible but also fosters a community of practice around data stewardship, emphasizing the importance of proper data curation and documentation.

Despite their efforts, the team faces challenges due to a small core group and limited resources, making their work time-consuming. Wolfe noted, “We curate data on a study-by-study basis, which is very time-consuming.” However, their dedication has resulted in documenting nearly 15,000 soil cores over seven years. They continue to seek ways to streamline the process and engage more researchers, enhancing the comprehensiveness and usability of the Coastal Carbon Atlas. Wolfe underscored the importance of promoting an open data culture to ease the sharing and integration of valuable information, ultimately aiming to make data more accessible and useful for researchers, policymakers, and community stakeholders.

Inspiration and Innovation: The Global Change Research Wetland at the Smithsonian

Left: Jaxine Wolfe carries a flux chamber out to the Hog Island field site at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center which is used to measure the amount of greenhouse gases being released from the marsh. Photo by Sarah Parker. Right: Photo of the Global Change Research Wetland by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

At the heart of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the Global Change Research Wetland stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for blue carbon science. “It’s one of my favorite blue carbon spots because of the important work being done there,” Wolfe stated. This marsh in the Chesapeake Bay region has been a living laboratory since the mid-’80s, exemplifying the power of long-term research and its profound impact on understanding our changing world. The pioneering CO₂ experiment—one of the longest-running of its kind—has not only revealed the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ but has also sparked innovative studies on sea level rise, nitrogen loading, warming effects, and invasive species.

Wolfe finds the ongoing research “inspiring and mind-blowing,” especially its exploration of “cross-terrestrial, aquatic interface interactions” and adaptation to phenomena like ghost forests emerging due to rising sea levels. Each visit to this vibrant ecosystem deepens her appreciation, as she reflects, “Every time I visit, it’s just so inspiring.” The interplay between field observations and experimental data at this wetland continuously enriches our models and validates predictive approaches, creating a dynamic cycle of discovery and action. For Wolfe, this wetland is not merely a research site but a powerful symbol of nature’s resilience and the relentless quest for knowledge, driving the pursuit of blue carbon science with every new question it inspires.

Harnessing Blue Carbon: A Pathway to Climate Resilience and Community Well-being

Blue carbon ecosystems play a vital role in sequestering carbon and offer a range of co-benefits to coastal communities. From storm surge protection to supporting fisheries and providing wildlife habitat, these ecosystems enhance the resilience of coastal regions. By engaging local communities, raising awareness about the value of blue carbon ecosystems, and involving stakeholders in restoration and conservation efforts, states can harness the full potential of these natural resources for climate change mitigation (Natural Climate Solutions) and community well-being. As we look towards the future, developing new tools and resources, such as an inventory calculator for coastal carbon, will further support state-level efforts to monitor and manage blue carbon ecosystems. By expanding our knowledge, engaging diverse stakeholders, and advocating for the protection and restoration of blue carbon habitats, we can make meaningful strides in addressing climate change and building a more sustainable future for future generations. The work of dedicated researchers like Jaxine Wolfe and organizations such as the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is paving the way for a brighter, more resilient future driven by the incredible potential of blue carbon ecosystems.

Special thanks to the Pew Charitable Trusts for collaborating with U.S. Nature4Climate on this article.

Scientist Highlight: Jaxine Wolfe

Combining Passion and Skill: Jaxine Wolfe’s Work at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Scientist Jaxine standing in front of a coastal wetland being restored. She's part of a team helping states harness blue carbon to fight climate change.

“I’ve been at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for over four years now. I started in February of 2020, right before the pandemic,” said Jaxine Wolfe, a data scientist whose journey began with an undergraduate degree in biology from Northeastern University. “During this time, I took classes and pursued internship opportunities that were formative in crafting my foundational understanding of the ecosystems I work with now, and also in developing the data skills I use today.” Wolfe’s early experiences with coding in biostatistics and internships at institutions like Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary shaped her expertise in data analysis, leading her to a role at SERC where she applies her skills in marine ecology and data science.

Wolfe emphasized  the importance of understanding the context in which data is collected. “I believe in a well-rounded understanding… As someone working with this information downstream, it’s crucial. It gives you a better understanding of the field challenges and why data might raise questions,” Wolfe said. Wolfe’s work at SERC involves standardizing and analyzing data from various studies, ensuring they are comparable and reliable. Wolfe’s hands-on experience in the field, including international training programs and blue carbon projects, has deepened her appreciation for the data she works with, underscoring the value of fieldwork in informing data-driven research and policy.

Additional Resources

States Improve How They Assess Coastal Wetlands’ Impacts to Reduce Climate Pollution by Pew Charitable Trusts

U.S. States Play Major Role Boosting, Expanding ‘Blue Carbon’ by Pew Charitable Trusts

States Harness Coastal Wetlands to Meet Climate Goals by Pew Charitable Trusts

Support for Implementing Natural Climate Solutions in the United States is Strong and Growing

A new national survey conducted by U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) shows that voters across party lines support natural climate solutions more than ever. Unlike other issues that polarize American voters, Natural Climate Solutions are uniquely unifying. Voters largely reject criticism that Natural Climate Solutions are too expensive and distract from other priorities, recognizing the broad array of benefits they provide. The poll also indicates that voters feel more favorably toward Members of Congress who support these solutions. Voters also strongly support a diverse range of practices and policies to fund and implement NCS strategies, including reforestation, wildfire management, and the provision of incentives and technical support for farmers and forest owners keen on adopting climate-smart practices and feel favorably toward Members of Congress that support these solutions. In short, this poll underscores how much voters across all parties support Natural Climate Solutions to help people, nature, and the climate.

An Overwhelming Bi-Partisan Majority of U.S. Voters Support Natural Climate Solutions

In June 2024, U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) commissioned a bi-partisan team of pollsters – New Bridge Strategy (R) and FM3 Research (D) – to survey 1,000 registered voters to gauge support for Natural Climate Solutions with an oversample of rural voters.

Poll Question:

“Natural Climate Solutions are actions that reduce emissions and increase carbon storage in forests, farms, grasslands, and wetlands. Practices that could be included are actions like…

  • Encouraging farming techniques that retain carbon in the soil, such as planting cover crops;
  • Conserving and replanting forests;
  • Conserving and restoring coastal wetlands; and
  • Reducing the loss of natural areas, planting trees, and providing parks in communities.

Efforts to expand these practices could be supported by laws and public funding approved at the federal, state, and local levels.

Does that sound like something you would support or oppose?”

Upon being presented with a succinct description of Natural Climate Solutions (above), voters were asked if they would support or oppose the expansion of these practices through legislation and public funding at federal, state, and local levels. The results were overwhelmingly positive: 94% of voters supported the expansion of Natural Climate Solutions, a 2-point increase from our May 2023 survey, leaving a mere 6% in opposition.

Significantly, this issue transcends party lines. An impressive 99% of Democrats, 94% of independents, and 89% of Republicans all voiced support for broader implementation of Natural Climate Solutions. Notably, the proportion of voters expressing strong support for the expansion of Natural Climate Solutions surged by 8 points, rising from 47% to 55%, suggesting growing enthusiasm among the electorate.

Voters largely reject criticism of Natural Climate Solutions suggesting that they are too expensive and distract from other priorities. After hearing arguments on both sides of the issue (below), an overwhelming 83% majority of voters agrees that Natural Climate Solutions are win-win solutions with a wide range of benefits over an argument that they waste money and won’t solve problems impacting Americans today (17%). Notably, 76% of Republicans, 80% of independents, and 92% of Democrats agree with investing in Natural Climate Solutions.

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Taking action to expand Natural Climate Solutions is also likely to reap rewards for those who support them. Voters were asked if they would have a more favorable or less favorable impression of their member of Congress if they “voted to keep these financial incentives and programs for farmers and landowners to better manage their land to reduce its impact on the climate and conserve land and water”. More than two-thirds (69%) of voters – including 60% of Republicans, 59% of independents, and 86% of Democrats) – would have a more favorable impression of their member of Congress, while only 6% would have a less favorable impression.

Policy Proposals That Help Implement Natural Climate Solutions Garner Strong Support

Voters also strongly support a wide range of policy proposals that would help expand implementation of Natural Climate Solutions on farms and ranches, in forests, and in coastal areas. These include proposals to provide incentives and technical assistance to farmers and forest owners through a variety of different means, reforest areas impacted by wildfire and removing overgrown brush and trees in forests to reduce wildfire threats, restore coastal wetlands, building up America’s conservation workforce, and ensuring that funding and assistance is fairly distributed. All of these proposals are supported by robust majorities across party, suggesting numerous popular options for policy makers to expand Natural Climate Solutions. These proposals enjoy widespread approval across political lines, indicating a robust consensus in favor of these measures. This broad support suggests a multitude of viable options for policymakers to further expand Natural Climate Solutions.

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Conclusion: There Is Growing Bipartisan Momentum for Natural Climate Solutions

The poll results reveal strong and growing cross-party support for the implementation of Natural Climate Solutions in the United States. Our research further reveals that voters envision an inclusive approach, integrating a variety of American landscapes – encompassing farms, forests, urban areas, grasslands, and coastal regions – into these climate initiatives. Importantly, the electorate extends a significant latitude to policymakers in devising the roadmap for Natural Climate Solutions, reflecting their resounding approval for multiple strategies. This suggests fertile ground for bi-partisan cooperation and consensus-building, opening up new avenues for climate action.

Additional Resources

Explore a short 2-pager that walks through some of the most attention-grabbing numbers from the poll.

Equip yourself with messages to help you advocate on behalf of Natural Climate Solutions.

See examples of Natural Climate Solutions in Action.

The Boise City of Trees Challenge: 235,000 New Trees Helping to Tackle Climate Change in the Boise National Forest

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • Community-Led Efforts: The Boise City of Trees Challenge is a community-led initiative that aims to tackle climate change by planting trees in urban areas and restoring forests, demonstrating the power of local action.
  • Environmental, Economic, and Community Benefits: Reforestation provides significant environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration, improved water quality, wildlife habitat restoration, and reduced landslide risk, while also enhancing recreational spaces for the community. The Lucky Peak Nursery, part of the U.S. Forest Service network, provides jobs and supports local economies.
  • Infrastructure Investment: The REPLANT Act, part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, increased annual federal funding for reforestation, demonstrating the potential of bipartisan legislation to address environmental challenges.
  • Successful Collaboration: The City of Trees Challenge showcases the power of collaboration among federal agencies, municipal governments, non-profit organizations, and local volunteers to achieve ambitious tree planting goals.
  • Urban Tree Canopy Enhancement: The initiative also includes work to enhance Boise’s tree cover, demonstrating the potential of urban forestry efforts to improve local climates, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
  • Critical Role of Nurseries: The USDA Forest Service’s Lucky Peak Nursery is pivotal in the reforestation process, producing millions of seedlings annually and ensuring they are genetically diverse and suited for their planting locations, thus maximizing survival rates.

In 2022, U.S. Nature4Climate profiled the Boise City of Trees Challenge, a community-led effort to increase urban tree canopy in Boise by planting one tree for every household [100,000] in the city. What makes this effort unique is that the urban forestry effort is coupled with an effort to restore the Boise National Forest, nearly 200,000 acres of which was burned by the Pioneer Fire in 2016. Post-fire reforestation provides many benefits for communities and the environment. In addition to jump-starting carbon sequestration, restored forests provide wildlife habitat, reduce the risk of landslides, improve water quality for surrounding communities, and provide areas for nearby communities to enjoy nature. With proper planning and management, restored forests improved resilience to wildfire, pests, and other climate change-driven threats.

Community leaders in Boise got together at the recently completed post-fire reforestation project in the Boise National Forest to celebrate the project's completion.

For this reason, the urban forestry goal was complemented by a plan to plant one tree for every person in Boise [235,000] in the Boise National Forest. Former Boise City Council member Elaine Clegg, who has helped lead the City of Trees Challenge, noted that having clearly defined goals was key: “People grasped it because they understood it. More importantly, everybody here said, ‘I think we can lean in and help’ and make it work.

On May 15, the program’s partners gathered at the USDA Forest Service’s Lucky Peak Nursery and in the Boise National Forest itself to celebrate the successful planting of 235,000 seedlings to help support the restoration of the forest. The City of Trees Challenge serves as an example of how federal agencies, municipal governments, and non-profit organizations can work together to accomplish ambitious tree planting goals.

Laying the Groundwork: The Vital Role of Tree Nurseries

Seedlings at the Lucky Peak Nursery, which is playing a crucial role in post-fire reforestation projects in the area.
The Lucky Peak Nursery, part of the U.S. Forest Service network, plays a crucial role in reforesting areas impacted by wildfire, providing jobs and supporting local economies. Photo by Nathan Henry.

The Lucky Peak Nursery is one of 8 facilities (6 nurseries and 2 seed extractories) in the U.S. Forest Service network. It currently has the greenhouse capacity to produce 1.7 million seedlings per year, and bare root field orders average 1-1.5 million seedlings per year, averaging combined annual orders of 3 million. The nursery plays a key role in successfully reforesting areas impacted by wildfire. Seeds are first collected by volunteers and contractors, who carefully select the healthiest, most vigorous trees – paying attention to genetic diversity. The seeds are then sent to the nursery, where they are extracted, sorted, grown, packaged, and shipped to private clients and to help restore federal public lands. The nursery does more than just grow seedlings. Nursery staff carefully tracks where each tree seed was collected from, including its location and elevation – ensuring that when the seedlings are ultimately planted, they have the best chance for survival.

As noted in the 2021 paper, Challenges in the Reforestation Pipeline in the United States, nursery capacity in the U.S. currently falls well short of what is needed to support ambitious reforestation efforts. Reforesting 64 million acres of land by 2040 with 30 billion trees would require 1.7 billion more seedlings to be produced every year – a 2.3-fold increase over nursery capacity in 2021, with additional investments also made in seed collection and seedling production. Re-building the Forest Service workforce is also necessary to accomplish these goals. According to a Forest Service fact sheet, the non-fire portion of the Forest Service workforce has declined by 40% even as wildfire increases substantially.

The REPLANT Act, passed as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, increased annual federal funding for reforestation from $30 million to $140 million, and mandates removing the 3 to 5 million acre backlog of areas requiring post-fire restoration. This will allow federally owned nurseries to increase capacity and strengthen the reforestation workforce. The Lucky Peak Nursery, which produces a combined 3 million bare root and container plug seedlings a year, is already half a million trees over capacity. According to Forest Service staff interviewed at the City of Trees event, funding from the REPLANT Act will allow the nursery to increase capacity to 7 to 10 million trees in the next 10 years. The City of Trees Challenge serves as an example of the kind of collaborative effort that can be supported with REPLANT Act funding.

Planting the Trees

Pictures of people planting trees in the Boise National Forest as part of the post-fire reforestation project component of the Boise City of Trees initiative.

Once the Lucky Peak Nursery produces the seedlings, the next step is to get them into the ground. The Forest Service undertakes extensive planning to ensure the trees survival, making sure the right trees are planted in the right place at the right time. At the Lucky Peak Nursery, seeds are carefully tracked according to the location and elevation where they are harvested. Nursery staff makes sure to select species and genotypes that are likely to thrive in the Boise National Forest. Silviculture staff ensures that trees are planted in areas that are unlikely to regenerate naturally. Those planting the trees, including volunteers and contractors, are trained to ensure that trees are planted in spots where they are most likely to persevere. According to John Riling, who manages the Forest Service’s wildfire strategy for the region, with careful planning, up to 80% of seedlings planted can survive. “Being strategic about how we plant, thinking about planting density and locations for establishing seed sources so those trees can further spread seeds is all critical in planning, design, and implementation.”  

This program’s success can be attributed in large part to the strong partnerships formed between federal and local government agencies and non-profit organizations. Under its silviculture program, the USDA Forest Service lends expertise, nursery capacity, and supports the workforce necessary to get the trees into the ground. The Nature Conservancy, Treasure Valley Canopy Network, Arbor Day Foundation helped provide the funding and support necessary to reach the program’s ambitious goals.

The Forest Service’s John Riling perhaps summed it up best when he said, “It’s an exciting era where tree planting has become sexy again. We’re starting to get funding through the REPLANT Act, a permanent authorized extension of the Reforestation Trust Fund, and also partners recognizing that value and supporting the effort are really allowing us to scale up.”

Don’t Forget the Urban Trees

The effort to replant the Boise National Forest is only one part of the City of Trees Challenge. The partnership is also continuing work to enhance Boise’s tree cover, with several additional communities in the Treasure Valley also participating in the program. Planting urban trees can bring significant benefits to the neighborhoods where they are planted. According to Elaine Clegg, “Right now the climate in some neighborhoods can be 10 degrees hotter than the climate in other neighborhoods on a hot day, solely dependent on their tree canopy cover.”

Enhancing Boise’s urban tree canopy focuses on reducing temperature disparities in different neighborhoods, particularly benefiting disadvantaged communities. Photos by Treasure Valley Canopy Network.

To date, nearly 17,000 trees have been planted in the city and surrounding communities. Partnerships with the Arbor Day Foundation, American Forests, Jayker Nurseries, ExtraMile Arena, and The Nature Conservancy help ensure trees are planted in areas lacking tree canopy – often in disadvantaged communities. The Boise Tree Captains program provides the workforce needed to get the trees in the ground in the neighborhoods where they are needed most. After the trees are planted, Tree Captains – volunteer leaders who work with neighborhood residents to plant trees – play an important role in maintaining the trees. According to Elaine Clegg, “We still have a lot of trees to go in the city, but I’m confident because of our success so far that we’re going to get there.”

Federal programs like the Forest Services’ Urban and Community Forestry Program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, can help support urban reforestation. Indeed, in 2023, the Treasure Valley Canopy Network was awarded a $1,076,500 million grant to support equitable access to tree canopy and urban tree maintenance programs. Tools like American Forests’ Tree Equity Score can help ensure that these trees are placed in the neighborhoods that need them most.

An Example for Future Efforts

Throughout the country – especially in Western states – urban areas are located in close proximity to National Forests that have been impacted by wildfire. Because these forests provide recreational services and a wide range of environmental benefits to those cities, they have a vested interest in restoring healthy forests. Accessing available sources of federal funding and establishing partnerships along the lines of the Boise City of Trees Challenge provides a way to bring together the funding, expertise, and workforce necessary to replant these forests. Coupling these efforts with community-led programs to restore urban tree canopy can help ensure the benefits of trees are shared equitably. Whether in a city or in a rural forest, every tree planted also helps pull carbon dioxide out of the air – helping to mitigate climate change and reduce threats to cities and forests alike. In the Boise National Forest, 235,000 new seedlings have joined the fight.

Related Reading:

Learn more about the City of Trees Challenge and how you can implement this in your community.

Use this infographic to make the case for the need for resources for urban tree maintenance, not just tree planting.

See more examples of how Natural Climate Solutions are benefitting communities across the United States.

Agricultural Land Protection is an Essential Tool for Fighting Climate Change

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • Extent of Farmland Conversion: Research by the American Farmland Trust reveals that significant acreage of American farmland has been converted to uses detrimental to agriculture between 2001-2016, with further projected losses by 2040, posing threats to rural economies, national food security, and our ability to address climate change.
  • Climate Implications: Conversion of agricultural land to other uses contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by displacing efficient agricultural production and encroaching upon carbon sinks like forests, grasslands, and farmland and ranchland managed using climate-smart practices, underlining the importance of farmland protection in mitigating climate change.
  • Role of Agricultural Conservation Easements: Agricultural conservation easements emerge as a crucial tool in addressing climate change by preventing agricultural land conversion, encouraging adoption of climate-smart practices, retaining land benefits for carbon sequestration, and protecting associated lands like woods and wetlands.
  • Impact of Federal Farmland Programs: Programs such as the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP) have shown a causal link between land protection and adoption of climate-smart practices, providing incentives and financial support for landowners to engage in long-term conservation efforts.
  • Federal Government’s Role: The federal government plays a significant role in farmland conservation through programs like ACEP-ALE and RCPP, but additional funding and administrative streamlining is necessary to make these programs more accessible and efficient in supporting agricultural land conservation.
American Farmland Trust logo

According to research by the American Farmland Trust (AFT), from 2001-2016, 11 million acres of American farmland were converted to uses that threaten the future of agriculture. Looking ahead, AFT modelling indicates that the U.S. will lose an additional 18.4 million acres by 2040 in the absence of significant policy interventions. Continued conversion of our working lands threatens the future of agriculture, rural economies, and national food security, while pushing land prices beyond the reach of established and aspiring farmers and ranchers alike. Land use change from cropland to other uses is also a driver of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as it displaces efficient agricultural production, which often leads to agricultural development in other areas including forests and grasslands that act as carbon sinks. Therefore, agricultural land protection is an essential tool for addressing climate change.

“Agricultural conservation easements are an essential – and too often overlooked – tool in our efforts to address climate change,” said Cris Coffin, Director of AFT’s National Agricultural Land Network and Senior Policy Advisor. “These easements help reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from low-density development. And protecting America’s disappearing farm and ranch lands is foundational to securing broader climate gains from American agriculture.” 

A white paper recently released by AFT, entitled “Agricultural Land Protection: An Essential Tool for Fighting Climate Change,” presents five ways in which agricultural conservation easements help mitigate climate change, positing that they:  

  • Avoid the conversion of agricultural land to developed uses with higher GHG emissions. 
  • Encourage greater adoption of practices that sequester carbon, reduce GHG emissions, and build climate resilience. 
  • Retain the benefits of conservation practices and the potential of lands to serve as a carbon sink. 
  • Reduce the threat of converting grasslands and more marginal land into production. 
  • Protect other lands associated with farms and ranches – like woods and wetlands – that often provide valuable carbon sequestration. 

Federal Farmland Programs Foster Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices

The paper builds off of survey results – published by AFT last September – of owners whose land was protected by the federal Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP). This program is the precursor to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) current Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The survey showed a direct relationship between program participation and implementing “climate-smart” practices, the subset of conservation practices identified by USDA NRCS as delivering carbon sequestration and GHG reductions.  

“We found that participation in the federal farmland protection program resulted in a so-called ‘permanence syndrome,’” said AFT Director of Farmland Information Center and Senior Advisor Jen Dempsey, who led the research effort which was conducted in partnership with the Resources Social Science Lab at Purdue University. “Proceeds from the voluntary sale of conservation easements gave landowners money to help adopt new practices. But more than that, owners said the protected status of the land motivated them to make long-term investments and improvements to their land.” 

Agricultural land protection is an avenue for Natural Climate Solutions like agroforestry (shown in the first picture) implementation in the U.S.
Farmland conservation is an avenue for agricultural Natural Climate Solutions implementation in the U.S.
Photos by ©Alita Film (left), ©Carlton Ward Jr. for TNC (center), and ©Evam Dority/TNC Photo Contest 2023 (right).

The FRPP survey shows higher adoption rates of climate-smart practices by owners of eased land than the general farming population. For instance, 65 percent of respondents used conservation tillage and 57 percent implemented cover crops or green manure crops. The National Agricultural Statistic Service’s 2017 Census of Agriculture of the general farming population shows 34 percent of farms using no-till or reduced tillage and 10 percent implementing cover crops.  

The white paper also points to how permanently protecting agricultural land can avoid GHG emissions when coupled with Smart Growth. This approach has been taken by the State of California through its Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation program, which funds agricultural conservation easements based on quantifying their potential GHG benefits. AFT is presently exploring how such an approach could be used nationally.  

“To date, over 8 million farmland acres have been protected,” said Coffin. “While this is an incredible achievement, it represents less than 1 percent of our nation’s farmland. If we are to meet our climate goals and feed a growing world, we must redouble our support for agricultural conservation easement programs at all levels of government.” 

The Federal Government Plays an Important Role in Farmland Conservation

The federal government plays a large role in where and how development occurs, and its influence should be harnessed to steer development away from our most productive, versatile and resilient agricultural land. The federal government is also a valuable partner in protecting working lands by funding several programs through the Farm Bill.

USDA’s Agricultural Conservation Easement Program-Agricultural Land Easements subprogram (ACEP-ALE) compensates willing landowners who permanently protect their land from development; USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) can also be used to permanently protect working lands. ACEP-ALE and RCPP offer landowners a valuable way to extract equity from their land to implement new conservation practices, pay down debt, finance farm expansion, or enable retirement and a farm or ranch transfer to a next generation. Permanently protected land is often significantly more affordable for the increasing number of next generation farmers and ranchers who did not grow up on a family farm. Both programs experience high demand and oversubscription, yet they prove excessively burdensome for both landowners and state and local partners, highlighting the necessity for administrative streamlining.

Congress is currently working on the next Farm Bill, which will include opportunities to improve and strengthen ACEP, the sole federal program devoted to the purchase of agricultural conservation easements.

In conclusion, it is evident that agricultural land protection is crucial in our collective efforts to address climate change and ensure food security for future generations. As highlighted throughout this article, agricultural conservation easements serve as a powerful tool in this endeavor, offering landowners incentives to protect their land from development while providing opportunities for financial stability and succession planning. By harnessing the influence of the federal government and implementing necessary reforms, we can pave the way for a future where our agricultural lands remain productive, resilient, and accessible to the generations of farmers and ranchers to come.

This article was adapted from the original version published by American Farmland Trust. Access original article here.

Learn more:

Agricultural land protection is reference in the 4 priorities for managing US lands in the face of climate change in this article.

Read four ways that policymakers can prioritize strategies to protect the land carbon sink and balance the many requirements for land use in the face of climate change.

Tools for agricultural land protection can be found in USN4C's Decision-Makers Guide to Natural Climate Solutions.

Explore our Decision-Makers Guide to Natural Climate Solutions to better understand the science behind these strategies and get tools to implement them.

See AFT’s Soil Health Case Studies page to read how farmers across the US are embracing soil health practices for increased resilience, efficiency, and environmental benefits while improving their bottom line.

Growth in Support for Natural Climate Solutions

As climate change intensifies weather events like storms, droughts, and heat waves, it can feel like humans are fighting a battle against nature. However, nature is one of the most effective tools in the fight against climate change. U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C), a coalition of over 20 environmental groups, works to advance natural climate solutions, which it defines as “strategies for addressing climate change that also help restore wildlife habitat, improve water quality, increase the productivity of our farms, create jobs, and protect our communities from storms and floods.” And as USN4C’s recent polling has shown, with support from 92% of voters, natural climate solutions would be a great fit for strong bipartisan climate action.

“Nature-based solutions” is a term U.S. Nature4Climate uses for strategies that address broader environmental challenges, while the organization reserves “natural climate solutions” for strategies that address climate mitigation in particular. However, in many cases, nature-based solutions also have carbon mitigation effects.

Nature at Work

Natural climate solutions are land- and water-based actions that can combat and mitigate climate threats while incorporating resilience into both our ecosystems and economies. When executed successfully, they conserve and regenerate forests, wetlands, grasslands, agricultural fields, and other key landscapes. Such solutions range from practicing crop rotation and creating living shorelines to reforestation and restoring natural habitats through conservation efforts.

Blue-carbon ecosystems are an example of how natural climate solutions can pay dividends. Blue-carbon ecosystems include mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, and tidal marshes. These ecosystems store carbon and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere, while also mitigating flooding and soil erosion. Mangrove forests can store up to four times as much carbon as other tropical forests, protect communities from storm surges, and provide safe habitat for marine life, thus supporting nature-based industries such as fishing.

In agriculture, the practice of no-till farming can help maintain soil health and longevity. Reducing tillage intensity can improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and potentially reduce the release of carbon dioxide from the soil. It also saves on the fuel and labor that would have otherwise been used in the tilling process. (Scientists are still working to reach a consensus on the extent of the climate-specific benefits of no-till farming.)

Natural climate solutions like these could reduce national emissions by one-fifth—especially if implemented into federal, state, and local policymaking. Such emission reductions would help the United States reach the target established by the Biden-Harris Administration of slashing greenhouse gas emissions 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Positive Public Perception

USN4C sought to determine how public support for natural climate solutions stacks up across the country. Results from its 2023 survey depict that an overwhelming 92% of people polled in the United States support natural climate solutions.

The survey results show that the idea of protecting natural areas for future generations has strong support across the partisan divide. Supporting wildlife habitat, water quality, and forest health also resonate highly.

Of all respondents polled, 95% of Democrats, 95% of Independents, and 86% of Republicans support natural climate solutions. And of those who responded that they do not believe in climate change, 75% still expressed support for natural climate solutions. This support demonstrates a welcome opportunity to implement these solutions around the nation.

When broken down by geographical region, the survey results offer useful takeaways for policymakers. Eighty-nine percent of respondents in rural areas support natural climate solutions, indicating the importance of researching and implementing climate solutions that benefit agriculture. Natural climate solutions that are well-suited for the agricultural sector include agroforestry, cover crops, and reduced tillage. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) already has programs like the Conservation Reserve Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program that support farmers in implementing agricultural practices that sequester carbon, but these programs are consistently oversubscribed.

The summary of the survey results discusses the importance of promoting the co-benefits of natural climate solutions—such as increased farm productivity and resilience to extreme weather events—to would-be supporters, to ensure continued support.

Pathways to Federal Prioritization

In September 2023, U.S. Nature4Climate hosted a New York Climate Week event titled “U.S. Government Support for Natural Climate Solutions Implementation.” The event, moderated by EESI President Daniel Bresette, aimed to thoroughly examine the federal actions being taken to scale up natural climate solutions. The event’s speakers included representatives from the Environmental Defense Fund, the White House, USDA, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council. Panelists provided an in-depth look at how the government can effectively mobilize funding for natural climate solutions to maximize ecological and climate benefits. They touched on key agricultural programs supporting climate solutions, the White House’s 2022 roadmap for accelerating nature-based solutions, the importance of minimizing risk for agricultural producers, and the barriers to and opportunities for Indigenous communities in their pursuit of climate-smart actions.

The White House’s roadmap includes five recommendations for advancing nature-based solutions: updating policies to improve their ease of use, ensuring funding is catalyzed effectively, expanding agency action, developing the necessary workforce, and prioritizing research and learning. The event panelists discussed how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (P.L. 117-169), the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58) and the next iteration of the Farm Bill all complement these efforts and provide additional opportunities for the federal government to implement natural climate solutions and climate-smart agriculture. The IRA, for example, includes funding for natural infrastructure in underserved communities, vegetation management projects, and climate resilience in disadvantaged communities—all of which can be mobilized for nature-based solutions.

Intentional Implementation

While the potential for progress on natural climate solutions is exciting, there are several important factors that policymakers must keep in mind regarding implementation, starting with financing requirements. Project funding is often dependent on meeting specific “return on investment” targets, which can be difficult without universal standards for project monitoring, and when objectives such as biodiversity are difficult to measure. Another important factor is community buy-in. By building partnerships across the project region and ensuring community engagement from the early stages, projects are more likely to reflect local needs and allow residents to have a voice.

Woodwell Climate Research Center’s guiding principles for effective natural climate solutions emphasize the importance of Indigenous and local community participation, “doing no harm” to the people involved, fully accounting for carbon stocks, and using high standards for any carbon markets that may be used to finance natural climate solutions. These solutions should lift up the leadership of Indigenous communities and support the well-being of people and ecosystems, rather than protecting profits and the “business as usual” status quo.

Natural climate solutions are an important piece of the puzzle in addressing the climate crisis, but they are not the only piece. These solutions must be implemented thoughtfully, equitably, and holistically, and paired with swift cuts to emissions, in order to reach their full potential.

This article was originally published on the Environmental and Energy Study Institute’s website.

Additional Resources

Read The Nature Conservancy’s recent paper on how nature can provide effective, measurable and equitable solutions to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises.

Explore our Decision-Makers Guide to Natural Climate Solutions to better understand the science behind these strategies and get tools to implement them.

Read article: A Climate-Smart Farm Bill Provides a Bipartisan Path Forward to Ensuring We Meet Our Climate Goals

4 Priorities for Managing US Lands in the Face of Climate Change

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • Challenges in Land Management: Policymakers and land managers face the challenge of managing U.S. lands to support various needs like food and timber production, community resilience, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration, amidst unpredictable weather and growing global demands.
  • Role of U.S. Lands in Climate Change Mitigation: U.S. lands can both sequester and emit greenhouse gases. Increasing the land carbon sink while decreasing land-based emissions is essential to meeting climate goals.
  • Potential of U.S. Lands: Investments like the Inflation Reduction Act aim to enhance the resilience and health of U.S. lands. Analysis suggests that ambitious climate-smart forestry and agriculture initiatives could significantly increase the land carbon sink and reduce agricultural emissions.
  • Priorities for Land Managers and Policymakers: Strategies to protect and increase the land carbon sink include limiting land conversion, building ecosystem resilience, planning for economy-wide decarbonization, and promoting green infrastructure. Community involvement, equitable distribution of benefits, and innovative financing mechanisms are crucial for successful land management projects.
© Rory Doyle for TNC

Policymakers and land managers face difficult decisions in an increasingly uncertain climate future. Lands must support food and timber production, help buffer communities from extreme weather, provide space for people to live and recreate, support biodiversity and sequester carbon. Managing land to meet all these needs while confronting unpredictable weather and a growing global demand for food and wood requires thoughtful and proactive action.

The U.S. lands sector, which includes forests, grasslands, wetlands, agricultural lands and agricultural operations, can remove carbon emissions to help curb the impacts of climate change, but it can also be a source of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Activities like planting trees or conserving natural ecosystems increase what’s known as the land carbon sink, or the ability of land to sequester carbon. On the other hand, running farm equipment, fertilizing soil and plowing under native grasslands, releases greenhouse gases.

To reduce the most harmful impacts from climate change and support the U.S. target of reducing economy-wide net greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030, the land carbon sink needs to be increased and protected from future degradation, while lands-based emissions need to be decreased.

The Potential of US Lands

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, together with existing state forest and agricultural policies, are making critical investments in the resilience and health of the U.S. land base. But new analysis from America Is All In — a coalition of U.S. state and local leaders and organizations, including WRI — finds that the benefits from this investment are not yet secured. Effective implementation of climate-smart federal programs combined with increased state ambition and investment is required to protect and increase the land carbon sink.

In 2021, U.S. lands sequestered approximately 750 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) per year, and agriculture emitted approximately 600 MtCO2e per year. Based on one set of models of the U.S. land sector, America Is All In finds that full implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and other current federal and state policies, amounting to $42 billion of planned investment, would reduce agricultural emissions by about 8% or 48 MtCO2e per year over 2021 levels in 2035 and would increase the land carbon sink by about 1.5% or approximately 10 MtCO2e per year over 2021 levels in 2035. While a 1.5% increase is modest, implementation of current policies could help to reverse a projected decline in the land carbon sink.

With increased policy ambition and investment of approximately $160 billion in climate-smart forestry and agriculture the models find that the land carbon sink would increase by approximately 3%, or 24 MtCO2e per year in 2035. This high-climate ambition scenario would see a 13% reduction in agricultural emissions, or approximately 75 MtCO2e per year by 2035.

While America Is All In finds that these levels of land sector mitigation are enough to help the U.S. realize its climate goals alongside emissions reductions in other sectors, they do not realize the full potential of the land carbon sink. Other studies find much higher potential for reforestation, agricultural emissions reductions and other nature-based climate solutions, but maximizing the land carbon sink involves land use trade-offs. For example, planting trees can effectively sequester carbon, but planting new forests on large expanses of agricultural land could displace critical food production. Careful policymaking at the federal, state and local levels is needed to balance land use for food, fiber, biodiversity, climate mitigation and more.

This map of the United States is divided by regions, showing which regions need the most funding based on the most impactful natural climate solutions for the area.

What Should Land Managers and Policymakers Prioritize?

Protecting and increasing the land carbon sink will require an all-society effort. Federal funding like the Inflation Reduction Act can provide the foundation for action, but effective implementation takes place at the state and local level where the needs of ecosystems and communities are considered, while tradeoffs are weighed.

Despite historic levels of land sector funding in the Inflation Reduction Act, funding for many key projects is still limited and state and local leaders and their private sector and NGO partners need to prioritize actions that mitigate greenhouse gasses and increase resilience.

Here are four ways that policymakers, local leaders and land managers can prioritize strategies that will protect the land carbon sink and balance the many requirements for land use in the face of climate change.

1) Limit Conversion by Identifying Regional and Local Drivers of Land Use Change

While it is important to increase the land carbon sink, it is equally important to protect the carbon already stored in soils and vegetation. U.S. forests alone already contain about 60 gigatons of carbon, and they sequester an additional 700 MtCO2e each year. However, if forest ecosystems are severely damaged by logging or a natural disturbance, carbon stored in trees and soils is released to the atmosphere, and the ability of that forest to sequester carbon into the future may be diminished. This is also true of grassland and agricultural soils: Once carbon is lost, it takes intensive restoration and management to restore the carbon sink to pre-disturbance levels. This dynamic can be thought of as the “carbon cost” of clearing land for agriculture or development and not taking action to restore carbon stocks.

Map of the United States showing land use in all 50 U.S. states. This map is meant to show where natural climate solutions like climate-smart forestry and cover crops can be applied by state based on how the land is currently used.

The factors that drive land use change vary regionally across the U.S. In areas where agriculture is a dominant industry, such as the Midwest, cropland expansion can drive the conversion of natural forest and grassland. Policies like the Renewable Fuel Standard that incentivize farmers to grow corn and soy for biofuels have contributed to the expansion of cropland into areas that are less productive and pose an outsized threat to habitat and biodiversity. Croplands have expanded by approximately 1 million acres per year between 2008 and 2016, leading to carbon emissions from the ecosystems that were converted.

The loss of cropland to commercial and residential development on some of the U.S.’s most productive soils is another driver of forest and grassland conversion. Urban expansion in many areas of the country displaces efficient agricultural production, requiring conversion to agriculture in other, less productive areas to compensate. The U.S. lost approximately 2,000 acres of prime farmland or ranchland every day between 2001 and 2016, and much of this land was converted to low-density urban development.

Forest loss due to land use change is an equally significant threat to natural carbon stores and ecosystem resilience. WRI’s Global Forest Watch finds that forest loss is most significant in the Northwest and Southeast regions of the U.S., and permanent deforestation is primarily driven by urbanization and commercial deforestation to accommodate demand for forest products. The U.S. lost 1.6 million hectares, or approximately 6,000 square miles of forest in 2022.

Policy approaches to curb land use change include:

  • Implementing urban zoning practices that create more dense and livable cities and protect prime farmland. For example, the state of New York has created a Farmland Protection Program that helps farmers maintain agricultural activity.
  • Making sure that biofuels and biomass policies include the true ‘carbon cost’ of biofuels to avoid incentivizing land use change and associated carbon emissions in the U.S. and abroad.

2) Build Resilience by Identifying Climate-related Factors that Threaten Local Ecosystems

Even though climate change affects all parts of the U.S., the key to managing ecosystems and lands for climate change is to identify the greatest health risks and then help them become resilient to change. Restoring an ecosystem often increases its carbon sink and resilient ecosystems and agricultural systems will reliably sequester carbon into the future.

Forests in Western and Southwestern U.S. states face an increased risk of extreme wildfire due, in part, to climate change, which can damage forests and reduce carbon sequestration capacity in the future. While wildfire mitigation treatments may decrease forest carbon stocks in the short- to medium-term, these treatments can safeguard forests in the long-term. Forests in the Rocky Mountain region are predicted to be a net source of carbon dioxide through 2070 without significant policy intervention, which underscores the urgent need to manage forests for wildfire resilience. Across the U.S., forests also face destruction by pests and pathogens, exacerbated by climate change, which one report has estimated will cost the U.S. 50 MtCO2e every year.

This photo of an airplane dropping fire retardant to battle flames in California is making the point that we need natural climate solutions like wildfire mitigation treatments (i.e. thinning and prescribed burns) to safeguard forests from catastrophic mega fires in the future.
A plane drops a fire retardant to battle flames in Southern California. U.S. Wildfires like those in California threaten ecosystems and impact their ability to sequester carbon. Photo by Randy Miramontez/Shutterstock.

In agricultural areas, climate-related extreme weather like drought, heat and flooding threatens crop production. Practices that build soil health like cover cropping or reduced tillage can increase crop resilience to flooding and drought. Agroforestry, or the practice of incorporating trees and shrubs into agricultural and ranching systems, can protect fields from erosion, improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat and sequester carbon. It is important that policymakers continue to support farmers in adopting these resilience practices as well as in reducing agricultural emissions by using targeted fertilizer application, improving livestock feed and reducing food loss and waste.

Carbon sinks in coastal areas are also under threat due to climate change. Sea level rise can flood wetlands and prevent them from providing water quality benefits and habitat for young fish. In many places, development in coastal areas prevents wetlands from migrating in response to sea level rise, so wetland ecosystems are permanently lost. Coastal development can also lead to draining or fragmenting wetlands which causes them to release carbon and methane.

Policy approaches to increase ecosystem resilience include:

  • Investing in risk mitigation treatments in areas with high risk of wildfires that improve forest health and resilience and reduce the risk of severe fire. For example, Colorado’s HB HB22-1011 created a grant program for local governments to undertake wildfire mitigation projects and education.
  • Providing forest owners in areas where diseases and pests threaten forest health with financial support to increase the health and carbon sequestration potential. For example, New York created a Forestry Cost Share Grant Program.
  • Establishing grant or cost-share programs to support farmers and ranchers in adopting resilience and emissions-reduction practices as the New Mexico Healthy Soils program has done.
  • Planning to protect wetlands in the face of climate change as Oregon has done in its new Climate Resilience Package (HB 3409).

3) Plan for Economy-wide Decarbonization

In addition to sequestering carbon in soils and vegetation, lands will physically support economy-wide decarbonization. Building enough renewable power to meet U.S. climate goals will require 115,000 to 250,000 square miles of land to build wind and solar generation as well as new transmission lines to transport energy. But this doesn’t necessarily mean the land devoted to renewable energy can’t continue providing food and habitat.

Agrivoltaics, or the practice of using land for both solar generation and agriculture can provide shade for livestock and crops and provide farmers with an additional source of revenue. Livestock can also graze between wind turbines on rangelands in windy regions.

Local policymakers and land managers need to balance the protection of key wildlife habitat and farmland with the need for infrastructure build-out to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Without immediate and ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, climate change will continue to threaten the ability of lands to sequester carbon and provide services to communities.

Policy approaches to support responsible clean infrastructure buildout include:

  • Adopting zoning ordinances or other planning methods to facilitate renewable energy buildout that protects and enhances the most productive agricultural areas and protects key habitats. New Hampshire’s Model Solar Zoning Ordinance offers a framework for leaders to consider community goals and impacts of solar siting to support better decision-making.
  • Bringing together diverse interests to address barriers to large-scale solar projects and to balance the needs of nature, communities, and climate, as a group in California has done.

4) Increase Community Resilience by Identifying Opportunities for Green Infrastructure

As U.S. cities and towns experience increasing impacts from extreme weather, wildfire and sea level rise, the role of nature as a buffer has never been more important. Investing in nature as infrastructure to protect communities can mitigate the effects of extreme weather and provide water and air quality benefits. Many green infrastructure projects are also restoration and carbon sequestration projects. For example, restoring wetlands in and around cities can increase their ability to sequester carbon, filter water and protect coastal areas from erosion and storm surges.

Green infrastructure can save cities and utilities money by lowering water treatment costs and preventing weather-related damage, so innovative financing mechanisms are often available for these projects. WRI and Blue Forest’s Forest Resilience Bond helps the U.S. Forest Service, local water utilities and other partners secure private finance for forest resilience projects that could save utilities millions of dollars in the long term.

While green infrastructure can provide important services to communities, these services are not equitably distributed. Urban trees and parks can cool city streets, sequester carbon and improve air quality, but many low-income neighborhoods have far fewer trees than wealthier neighborhoods. Improving tree equity in these neighborhoods is critical to creating livable cities for all residents and support local livelihoods. 

This graphic shows how maintaining healthy forests, a natural climate solution, have many benefits including improving water quality, regulating water supply, and lowering water treatment costs.

Policy approaches to support green infrastructure include:

  • Adopting legislation that leverages private capital to fund restoration and environmental benefits like Maryland has done through its Conservation Finance Act.
  • Creating grant programs to support urban tree planting as Wisconsin has done through its Regular Urban Forestry Grants.
  • Accessing funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which delivered $43.3 billion for state water quality projects, and is distributed through the State Clean Water Revolving Loan Funds. Some states, such as Ohio, have had success leveraging these funds for stream restoration projects that improve water quality.

A People-centered Approach to Land Management

Land management strategies that support local livelihoods and well-being while delivering climate benefits are more likely to have sustained success in the long term. However, securing positive local outcomes for a project can be challenging because opinions about land management can be deeply tied to cultural, spiritual and economic values. Project funders and policymakers may also have expectations about the outcomes of a project that do not align with local desires or expectations. Research suggests that the following strategies can create successful projects and policies:

  • Policy and project design should go beyond consulting local stakeholders — stakeholders should have continuous input starting from the initial stages of project development, as well as participate in project governance with clear dispute-resolution mechanisms in place. Initiatives should also involve all affected groups in designing and executing a project or policy, especially marginalized groups, to create durable and equitable outcomes.
  • Government agencies should create collaborative resource management approaches to managing state and federal protected lands. This allows tribes or local stakeholders to co-manage land with agencies.
  • Establishing Community Benefit Agreements can help guarantee local employment and other benefits to a community in exchange for their participation in a project.
  • Projects that remove carbon can be incorporated into climate resilience and adaptation planning to ensure that projects are beneficial to communities. Resilience, adaptation and climate mitigation projects should include funding for measuring and monitoring carbon and other benefits to make sure projects have impact over time.

This article was originally published by the World Resources Institute. Access the original article here.

Further Reading

Land management strategies like planting trees on marginal lands is one of several natural climate solutions. The Decision-Makers Guide can help policymakers understand the science and see the tools available to implement natural climate solutions.

Explore our Decision-Makers Guide to Natural Climate Solutions to better understand the science behind these strategies and get tools to implement them.

This collage of photos shows Americans implementing natural climate solutions like land management across the U.S.

See Americans taking action to tackle climate change with Natural Climate Solutions

Read article about 2023 Natural Climate Solutions Poll Results

Leon LaSalle and the Chippewa Cree Tribe: Making USDA Programs Work For Tribal Producers

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • Leon LaSalle and the Chippewa Cree Tribe are leading a groundbreaking grant project to enhance conservation grazing practices and overcome barriers faced by tribal producers in accessing USDA programs.
  • The project provides a wide range of environmental benefits, including improved water quality and soil health, along with potential carbon sequestration. Economically, it enhances stability and reduces financial burdens during droughts for the Tribe.
  • Motivated by the struggles of tribal producers with USDA programs, Leon seeks to catalyze change through innovation, exemplifying tribal sovereignty in negotiating alternative funding arrangements under the 2018 Farm Bill.
  • Moving forward, several policy changes are needed for equitable access to Farm Bill Programs, including adjustments to livestock assistance programs and affordable crop insurance options for tribal producers.
  • The upcoming Farm Bill is an important opportunity for addressing these challenges, and the article advocates for the expansion of networks and involvement of private organizations to enhance access for tribal producers to Farm Bill programs.

From the sweeping landscapes of the Chippewa Cree Tribe, a third-generation rancher named Leon LaSalle is tenaciously advocating to reshape the narrative for tribal producers. In an exclusive conversation with the Native American Agriculture Fund, a private funding organization dedicated to increasing access to capital for Native American producers, Leon delves into the triumphs and trials of their groundbreaking grant project aimed at enhancing conservation grazing practices and overcoming the barriers faced by tribal producers in accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs.

Confronting The Drought Dilemma

As our climate changes and weather has become increasingly unpredictable, dealing with the impact of drought has become an increasingly pressing challenge for the Chippewa Cree and other tribes. Leon drove this point home in the interview, noting, “Droughts are a big deal, it’s an ongoing deal, and we know we have to plan for it, so that’s part of everything we are doing.” To mitigate the impacts of drought on tribal producers, Leon emphasized that proper infrastructure and management practices like the availability of forage and livestock water are important. However, tribal producers have historically faced difficulties accessing funding through USDA programs to enhance their conservation and climate mitigation practices.

Leon’s project focuses on climate-smart conservation practices and advocacy, aiming to enhance conservation grazing on tribal lands and improve tribal producers’ access to USDA programs. Additionally, the project assesses the potential for carbon sequestration through grazing systems. In the interview, Leon underscored the significance of data sharing across reservations in Montana and neighboring regions. “Hopefully, this project will come up with data and positive results that can be shared within my reservation, with neighboring reservations, and across the whole country.”

The project also provides a wide range of environmental benefits, including improved water quality and quantity, enhanced soil health, and the potential for carbon sequestration. Economically, improved stability and less reliance on emergency measures during droughts reduce the financial burdens faced by the Tribe.

Sovereignty Into Action: Catalyzing Change Through Innovation

Leon’s motivation for supporting the project was to address the longstanding struggles of tribal producers with USDA programs. “As an ex-employee of NRCS, I had witnessed first-hand tribal producers and tribal entities struggle with USDA programs and their implementation. One of my big drivers was to see if we could do something more than what the USDA was doing for tribal producers.” The Chippewa Cree Tribe fully supports this initiative, aiming to improve opportunities not only locally but also for tribes across the country.

During the interview, Leon also discussed the challenges tribal producers face due to USDA program constraints, highlighting the project’s success in negotiating alternative funding arrangements (AFAs) under the 2018 Farm Bill. This achievement allows tribal producers to receive a full 90% cost share, addressing previous disparities where perceived cost shares were often 50% or less. “We have helped the Chippewa Cree Tribe and the Fort Belknap Indian Community successfully negotiate the two first alternative funding arrangements in the entire United States under the 2018 Farm Bill. Those are important because now in those arrangements, tribal producers are able to get a full 90% cost share. Under the old system, producers were led to believe they were getting 90% cost share, but because those were based on region-wide costs NRCS provided, most of the time those cost shares were 50% or less. This was leading to many producers canceling contracts and not moving forward. I think we’ve really opened up an avenue and set up a template that other tribes can follow and negotiate their own arrangements.” 

The negotiated funding arrangements with the federal government exemplify tribal sovereignty in action. The AFAs can enable tribes to address the distinctive priorities of their communities. Considering the diverse cultures and environmental factors inherent to each sovereign tribal nation, it is imperative that tribes are at the forefront of decision-making in these processes, ensuring the implementation of programs align with the cultural values and needs of their tribal producers and community members.

Increasing Equitable Access to Farm Bill Programs

Leon also pointed out the need for several policy changes, including adjustments to livestock assistance programs, improved funding for tribal historic preservation offices, and affordable crop insurance options for tribal producers. He stressed that the upcoming Farm Bill provides an important opportunity for addressing these challenges. To scale up efforts in conservation and access to Farm Bill programs, Leon emphasized the importance of expanding the network of technical experts who can assist tribal producers. He also urged the involvement of private organizations to complement federal agency efforts. “To build upon success, we need to expand the network of technical people who can carry this work forward. It’s through private work that this will happen, and the federal agencies will not be our savior, we need to empower more organizations like the Intertribal Agriculture Council into the field that can assist tribal producers. It is time to break the stereotypical mold and come up with a different model. We need more people to help producers get it done on the ground.”

Leon’s favorite memory from the grant project was successfully negotiating historical agreements with USDA, particularly AFAs, and changes to grazing management standards. “When we started that negotiation, it started from “this is our standard and this is what you have to do,” to “we can’t do that and we need a different avenue and maybe we need to involve other people in the negotiation,” to finalizing a process that opens the door for a lot more tribal participation through EQIP, CSP, and CRP. We were miles apart initially, but what is important is that it was achieved in support of tribal producers. These changes we are making now are forever, they are historic changes that will go on for future generations of tribal producers.”

Leon LaSalle’s dedication to advancing conservation practices and advocating for tribal producers is truly inspiring. His insights and experiences shed light on the challenges and opportunities in achieving a more equitable and sustainable agricultural landscape for Native communities, illuminating a path forward.

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Harnessing Nature’s Potential: The Government’s Role in Advancing Natural Climate Solutions in the United States

CLICK TO READ ARTICLE'S KEY POINTS
  • The U.S. government is significantly increasing support for Natural Climate Solutions (NCS), recognizing their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and store carbon.
  • During NY Climate Week 2023, an expert panel emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change in agriculture, the importance of carbon dioxide removal, and the crucial role of nature in achieving climate goals.
  • The government, through initiatives like the National Nature-based Solutions Roadmap, is taking comprehensive steps to unlock the full potential of nature-based solutions (including Natural Climate Solutions), involving policy updates, funding expansion, and collaboration across federal agencies.
  • The article highlights oversubscribed financial mechanisms, such as the Farm Bill, indicating strong interest in climate-smart agriculture, while also showcasing how federal programs are empowering underserved communities and indigenous tribes in implementing NCS.

In recent years, the United States government has significantly increased its support for the implementation of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) on American natural and working lands. This surge in funding has paved the way for a diverse array of programs aimed at expanding the adoption of these innovative strategies across the nation. NCS encompasses land management approaches designed to harness the power of forests, farms, grasslands, coastal and marine ecosystems, and urban environments to either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

During New York Climate Week 2023, the U.S. Nature4Climate coalition organized an expert panel to delve into the U.S. government’s role in promoting NCS implementation. The panel featured prominent figures in the field, including:

  • Britt Groosman, Vice President of Climate Smart Agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund
  • Heather Tallis, Assistant Director for Biodiversity and Conservation Sciences at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Sean Babington, Senior Advisor at the United States Department of Agriculture
  • Freddie Davis, Director of the Rural Training and Research Center at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives
  • Emily Luscombe, Natural Resources Director at the Intertribal Agriculture Council. 

The discussion was expertly moderated by Daniel Bresette, President of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), and introduced by Sacha Spector, the Environment Program Director at Doris Duke Foundation, who emphasized the unprecedented opportunity in the U.S. with various federal funding sources for Natural Climate Solutions and expressed excitement about the potential of these solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation.

The Big Picture

Britt Groosman, Vice President of Climate Smart Agriculture at the Environmental Defense Fund, initiated the discussion by highlighting the pressing issue of climate change in relation to agriculture. She emphasized that globally, agriculture contributes one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, especially when considering deforestation driven by agricultural activities. She added that climate-induced challenges like droughts and heatwaves are making farming increasingly risky and costly.

Groosman underscored the urgency of addressing this issue by stressing the importance of carbon dioxide removal, not just emission reduction. She pointed out that nature, with its intrinsic carbon-capturing capabilities, plays a crucial role in this endeavor.

“If you look at the dashed line (where we need to be to reach our 1.5°C target) compared to the impact of our current pledges and NDCs, you can see it is not enough. This is why we need carbon dioxide removal, not just the reduction of emissions. We can do this with technology, but guess what’s really good at doing this already? Nature.” –Britt Groosman

Groosman cited a study conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund that outlined the pathways to a stable climate for agriculture in the U.S., which included the need to cut methane emissions in agriculture by 25%, reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 9%, curtail carbon emissions resulting from land use changes by 72%, and increase carbon storage in forests by 32%. It was emphasized that preventing the conversion of land for agricultural use is crucial since future emissions from the agricultural sector will primarily arise from land conversion.

Groosman identified the Farm Bill as a significant opportunity for funding NCS implementation, featuring key programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agriculture Conservation Partnership Program (ACEP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), all of which lack resources to meet high demand, despite a significant infusion of funding for many of these programs from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which dedicated $20 billion for conservation agriculture programs and added climate change mitigation criteria to qualify for funding.

It’s essential to note that the IRA was a one-time increase in Farm Bill funding, not a permanent baseline increase.

Groosman concluded by stating that the next step is for the environmental community to collaborate with the agriculture sector to build a better foundation for climate action, including expanding technical assistance and climate services capacity, technology deployment to track changes in emissions, research into how climate-focused farming can increase resilience and yield, and more farmer-focused education.

[Explore EESI’s 2023 Farm Bill Briefings to learn more.]

Driving Action: Mechanisms for Supporting Implementation

The White House Office of Science & Technology Policy‘s Heather Tallis then reiterated the untapped potential of NCS in addressing climate change and detailed how the federal government has responded. She stressed that we are currently utilizing just a fraction of what nature offers to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Tallis referenced a recent study (Beck et. al, 2022) that demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of restoring coral reefs and mangroves for coastal risk reduction, highlighting the potential of NCS for adaptation.

Every dot on the map is a cost-effective restoration opportunity where every dollar spent in restoration will return at least $1 of avoided flood damages. In particular, the yellow dots are encouraging as they show a 15 to 1 return estimate for avoided damages.

In response to these opportunities, the federal government published a National Nature-based Solutions Roadmap, co-chaired by Tallis and colleagues at the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality and Domestic Climate Policy Office, aimed at unlocking the full potential of nature-based solutions. This comprehensive effort involved multiple federal agencies, including non-natural resource agencies, signifying a holistic strategy for driving action across the government. The roadmap offers top-line recommendations that span policy updates, funding expansion, altered federal asset management, workforce development, and advancements in science and innovation. These recommendations aim to address the barriers hindering federal agencies from rapidly accelerating the adoption of nature-based solutions.

Notable progress one year after publishing the National Nature-based Solutions Roadmap

Tallis noted that there has been significant progress over the year since publishing the National Nature-based Solutions Roadmap. For example, funding notices have been adjusted to explicitly encourage the proposal of nature-based solutions, underlining the growing recognition that investments in nature are a vital element in climate action.

Sean Babington, Senior Advisor at the Department of Agriculture, then reiterated the importance of the agriculture sector in achieving climate goals by 2030. The USDA has several tools at their disposal to assist in implementing the Natural Climate Solutions needed to make this transformation, including Farm Bill conservation programs, IRA funding, Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, and private investment opportunities.

It’s important to note that almost all of these financial mechanisms to advance implementation of climate-smart agriculture and forestry in the U.S. are significantly oversubscribed. For example, Babington elaborated on the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which received substantial interest from producers, NGOs, universities, and the private sector. The program aims to increase the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices and climate-smart forestry practices, with robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification procedures in place to track progress.

“Basically, the USDA asked producers, NGOs, land grants, universities, the private sector, and corporations to come together and tell the USDA how they would plan to use some of this funding to increase the adoption of climate-smart agriculture production practices and climate-smart forestry practices. It was a very open-ended request. They received over $20 billion in applications for the $3 billion opportunity,” explained Babington.

Similarly, the discussion also touched on USDA’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, which also received significant interest and demonstrated the enthusiasm for such initiatives. This program aims to plant and maintain trees in urban areas across the country that have tremendous potential to improve the lives of people in communities affected by a lack of tree cover. For the $1.5 billion available in grants, they received over $7 billion in applications. “If you hear that producers don’t want this money or we should rescind this and put it towards something else, remember these subscription numbers,” said Babington.

On-the-Ground Implementation

Freddie Davis, the Director of the Rural Training and Research Center at the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, followed the discussion by shedding light on how their organization is utilizing federal programs to promote NCS among underserved landowners. The Federation of Southern Cooperatives focuses on cooperative development, advocacy, and land retention, with a primary mission of preserving land among underserved landowners. Davis emphasized the importance of climate-smart commodities in promoting regenerative agriculture practices and leveraging partnerships to market NCS products. Key programs, such EQIP and CSP, play a pivotal role in introducing NCS practices to producers.

Davis highlighted how these programs are instrumental in building capacity within their communities. Historically, many producers lacked the capacity to shift away from practices that were detrimental to their land in the long term. However, the inclusion of underserved components in these programs has provided opportunities for producers to implement NCS practices and gain access to markets that recognize the value of their products.

The panel concluded with a presentation from the Intertribal Agriculture Council‘s Natural Resources Director, Emily Luscombe, focusing on how tribes and the council are utilizing federal funding to implement NCS while ensuring equity and advancing environmental justice. She discussed the unique challenges faced by tribal communities in the context of regenerative agriculture and climate change, underscoring the importance of incorporating indigenous perspectives in agriculture. The Natural Resources program at the Intertribal Agriculture Council concentrates on promoting regenerative agriculture by working on practice changes and advocating for broader systems thinking.

Luscombe elaborated on the deep-rooted Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) held by tribes, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and valuing this knowledge, which has been tested and refined over thousands of years. This knowledge forms the basis for regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions for climate change (or natural climate solutions). Luscombe also pointed out the historic barriers that tribal communities have faced, from jurisdictional complexities and land ownership issues to discrimination and marginalized lands. However, she highlighted that recent improvements are occurring, including provisions in the Farm Bill that better cater to tribal needs, recognizing the value of TEK and supporting climate-smart agriculture.

She also mentioned various federal programs and funding sources that tribes leverage for climate-smart agricultural projects, noting how tribes combine different programs to create holistic ecosystem restoration initiatives. Finally, she discussed a proposed provision in the 2023 Farm Bill that aims to establish tribal seed networks for better adaptation to microclimates and climate change, reflecting the ongoing efforts to improve conditions for tribal agriculture and climate resilience.

In conclusion, the increased support from the U.S. government for NCS implementation reflects a growing recognition of the pivotal role nature can play in mitigating climate change. This collaborative effort involves government agencies, environmental organizations, farmers, and indigenous communities, each contributing to the greater goal of achieving climate equity and environmental justice. The momentum gained in recent years, fueled by a commitment to natural climate solutions, demonstrates a path forward that holds significant promise. These efforts promise a more regenerative and climate-resilient future, unlocking the full potential of our natural landscapes in service of a healthier planet for all.

Explore programs implementing Natural Climate Solutions with support from federal funding, including the Farm Bill

Our farmers, ranchers, and foresters want to be part of the solution to climate change, but they need financial support to do so. Our latest page showcases programs implementing Natural Climate Solutions with support from federal funding, including the Farm Bill.

Discover how these solutions are addressing climate change and helping restore wildlife habitat, improve water quality, increase the productivity of our farms, create jobs, and protect our communities from storms and floods. Explore the impact.

A Climate-Smart Farm Bill Provides a Bipartisan Path Forward to Ensuring We Meet Our Climate Goals

In recent years, the United States government has significantly increased its support for the implementation of Natural Climate Solutions on American natural and working lands. This surge in funding has paved the way for a diverse array of programs aimed at expanding the adoption of these innovative strategies across the nation. Natural Climate Solutions encompass land management approaches designed to harness the power of forests, farms, grasslands, coastal ecosystems, and urban environments to either reduce greenhouse gas emissions or capture and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These solutions not only address climate change, but they also help restore wildlife habitat, improve water quality, increase the productivity of our farms, create jobs, and protect our communities from storms and floods.

The Farm Bill in particular is a vital opportunity to put out our farmers, ranchers, and foresters at the center of the solution and forge a sustainable and productive future by:

  • Providing financial and technical assistance for farmers to adopt climate smart practices that also improve soil health and water quality.
  • Helping communities plant and maintain urban trees.
  • Preserving America’s forests and grasslands for future generations.
  • Preventing catastrophic wildfires and restoring forests impacted by fire.

Additionally, a climate-smart Farm Bill provides a bipartisan path forward to ensuring we meet our climate goals.

Below is a selection of programs successfully implementing Natural Climate Solutions with the assistance of federal funding:

Impactful Programs Supported by Farm Bill Funding:

Other projects funded by federal programs or potential candidates for funding: