Delivering GHG Reductions under Various Climate Policy Options

By Charles Kerchner

With the economic concerns, health care debate, and climate skepticism delaying any immediate action on climate change policy in Washington, the door has been left open for other climate policy proposals. The question facing farm and forest landowners during this time of uncertainty is: How can the agriculture and forestry sectors deliver GHG reduction benefits under any policy option on the table?

To date, the lion’s share of attention has been given to the cap-and-trade policy (i.e., the Waxman-Markey bill and the Kerry-Boxer bill). Under a cap-and-trade system the agriculture and forestry sectors are expected to be uncapped sectors and are expected to deliver substantial quantities of offsets to capped entities at an early stage in the game.  This could represent a multi-billion dollar a year revenue stream for American foresters and farmers.  However, if a cap-and-trade system is not the chosen policy, there are still opportunities under the other options being considered.

Stakeholder Workshops Examine Feasibility for a Reforestation Carbon Project in the Dominican Republic

Example of pasture land that could be reforested with A/R credits in the Quita Espuela and Guaconejo ecological corridor.

By Charles Kerchner

While walking through the ecological corridor of Quita Espuela and Guaconejo Reserves in the Dominican Republic with Martin Garcia and Faustino Almanza, two community park rangers, I wondered if we could accomplish what we set out to achieve.  If we succeed, the project will be the first of its kind on the island of Hispaniola, i.e. territory that shares Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  Further, it will be a global model for protecting biodiversity and bird habitat via improved livelihoods.