See how Natural Climate Solutions are a win-win for:
Jobs
The path to rebuilding our economy and slowing climate change starts with Natural Climate Solutions. Solutions like wetland and forest restoration already account for about 221,000 US jobs — but that’s just the beginning. Restoring trees to American landscapes alone would create over 150,000 new jobs a year, while pulling millions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere. These proven solutions benefit our local economies — and our global climate.
See how Natural Climate Solutions create jobs:
-
Environmental Restoration
Environmental restoration, such as forest and wetland restoration projects, is a proven job creator. One study estimated that restoration projects already account for about 221,000 jobs in the United States.
-
Reforestation
A major program to reforest American landscapes can create up to 150,000 new jobs a year, triple the number of new jobs created in the oil and gas industries in 2018.
-
Outdoor Recreation
The Great American Outdoors Act provides $3 billion to restore national parks and support land and water conservation, creating at least 100,000 jobs in heavily impacted communities surrounding popular public recreation areas.
-
Coastal Restoration
Each dollar invested in coastal restoration returns $15 in economic benefits, including protection from storm surges, support for commercial and recreational fishing, wildlife protection, and recreation opportunities and jobs.
Featured Stories
Growing Trees, Growing Jobs
How restoring forests across the United States can help address the unemployment crisis.
Read more »Bringing tree equity and urban forestry jobs to five U.S. cities
In some city neighborhoods, shade trees line the streets and tower over homes, cooling the air and purifying it, boosting people’s moods and health, and even generating jobs.
Read more »Rachel Holmes, TNC
Advocating for Conservation Careers
Read more about unique collaborations between conservation organizations, medical professionals and neighborhood groups to restore tree canopy in Chicago’s South Side.
Read more »Environmental Justice
The climate crisis impacts all of us, but underserved communities suffer disproportionately from the adverse effects of climate change. Solutions to the climate crisis must start with environmental justice — and that includes Natural Climate Solutions. Projects like urban reforestation can create jobs in underserved communities, improve community health, and sequester carbon to help stop climate change.
See how Natural Climate Solutions help advance environmental Justice:
-
Tree Equity
Urban and community forests already save $7.8 billion a year in reduced energy costs to heat and cool residences — savings of about 7%. Trees are also proven to help reduce chronic respiratory conditions and heat-related illnesses and improve mental health. However, a recent study found that 92% of low-income communities and communities of color have unequal tree cover, and are not sharing these benefits. Planting trees in urban neighborhoods can help improve community health and make energy more affordable, all while fighting climate change.
-
Jobs Potential
Urban reforestation can be a catalyst for economic recovery. An effort to plant 31.4 million trees in urban areas could support as many as 228,730 jobs per year, including new forestry jobs in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and communities of color. Urban forestry jobs also provide career pathways for young people in the communities that need trees the most. For example, American Forests’ Tree Equity Career Pathways Initiative builds an inclusive urban forestry workforce through education, job training, and support services for young people in urban communities.
Featured Stories
Bringing tree equity and urban forestry jobs to five U.S. cities
In some city neighborhoods, shade trees line the streets and tower over homes, cooling the air and purifying it, boosting people’s moods and health, and even generating jobs.
Read more »Rachel Holmes, TNC
Advocating for Conservation Careers
Read more about unique collaborations between conservation organizations, medical professionals and neighborhood groups to restore tree canopy in Chicago’s South Side.
Read more »Coming together to plant trees and help them thrive in desert cities
CLIMATE CHANGE-induced extreme heat is a serious and growing problem for cities nationwide. For desert cities, such as Phoenix, figuring out the best way to plant and care for trees is critical to addressing this problem. And saving lives.
Read more »Climate-Smart Cities™–New Orleans
Few American cities are more vulnerable to climate change-related flooding, heat, and storms than New Orleans. So it makes sense that city leaders are setting ambitious goals for developing green infrastructure to keep the city cool, absorb stormwater runoff, and shield homes, streets, and businesses from flooding. The Trust for Public Land’s Climate-Smart Cities team is working with public agencies, neighborhoods, funders, and researchers to help New Orleans develop green infrastructure where it’s needed most.
Read more »Landowners
Whether they are stewards of forests or farms, landowners can boost their bottom lines while being a part of the solution to climate change. Regenerative agriculture techniques like cover crops and reduced tillage lower costs, increase agricultural productivity, and make farms more resilient to drought and flooding. Meanwhile, reforestation and sustainable forest management programs create new sources of income for forest owners, including access to carbon markets. These proven Natural Climate Solutions are good for business — and for our environment.
See how Natural Climate Solutions benefit landowners:
-
Sustainable Forestry
Through sustainable management, forest landowners can reduce their expenses by as much as 75%, while generating new income through carbon credits that help other businesses reach their sustainable development goals.
-
Improving Farmers' Bottom Line
In one study, the introduction of soil health management practices increased net income for 85% of farmers growing corn and 88% of farmers growing soybeans, reducing the average cost to grow corn by $24/acre and soybean by $17/acre, and increasing net farm income by an average of $52/acre for corn and $45/acre for soybean.
Featured Stories
Caleb Kenna
Vermont Land Trust: Sequestering carbon while making breakfast sweeter
Jessica Boone and Everett McGinley reap economic benefits by managing healthy maple forests that both store carbon and preserve wildlife habitat.
Read more »Days Edge Productions
Tuuk Family Forest: One Family’s Efforts To Keep Their Legacy Alive in Tennessee
Learn about one family’s quest to preserve the forest of their youth through an innovative program that creates new sources of revenue, ensures sustainable forest management and helps address climate change
Read more »Sustainable Farming: Is there a payoff?
Farmers like Jared Hagert in North Dakota and the Schlichting family in Minnesota are finding good reasons to adopt sustainable farming practices. The emphasis on crop diversity and healthy soils is not just good for the environment — it adds to the bottom line, too.
Read more »The economic benefit of regenerative agriculture for family farmers.
Soil Health Case Studies across the United States.
Read more »