In a press release dated November 17, 2014, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, said a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant has helped initiate a partnership that is improving the environment, creating a market for carbon credits generated on working grasslands. Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, recently purchased almost 40,000 carbon dioxide reduction tons generated on working grasslands in the Prairie Pothole region of North Dakota.
This announcement is one of many USDA efforts to help America's farmers, ranchers and forest owners adapt to new challenges caused by a changing climate – ranging from more intense weather events, to increased risk of wildfire, to a greater prevalence of invasive species.
The landowners receive compensation for the carbon credits generated on their lands. Vilsack states, "Ranchers benefit from new revenue streams, while thriving grasslands provide nesting habitat for wildlife, are more resilient to extreme weather, and help mitigate the impact of climate change."
This is how the credit system works: Landowners voluntarily place lands under a perpetual easement but retain rights to work the land, such as raising livestock and growing hay. The carbon storage benefits of this avoided conversion of grasslands are quantified, verified, and formally registered resulting in carbon credits. The carbon credits are made available to entities interested in purchasing carbon offsets.
Vilsack adds, "The amount of carbon dioxide removed from our atmosphere by Chevrolet's purchase of carbon credits equals the amount that would be reduced by taking more than 5000 cars off the road."
Executive Director for Global Public Policy at GM, Greg Martin, said the company has made a commitment to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon from being emitted. This is equivalent to the annual carbon reduction benefit of a mature forest the size of Yellowstone National Park.
The names of the participating landowners have not been released, however we do know the land is in the Missouri Coteau area of North Dakota in six counties: Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, McHenry, McIntosh and Sheridan.
Landowners can get more information from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or from local Ducks Unlimited offices.
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