As the climate change conversation proceeds in Washington, conservationists are working toward having final legislation include funding and incentives for sequestering carbon in agricultural lands and forests. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan along with other members of the Senate have now introduced a bill that would do this.
According to Jad Daley, director of TPL’s Climate Conservation Program:
Forests can provide up to 80% of the initial domestic offsets we need to affordably implement a cap and trade system. Without including forests, the cost to consumers will be considerably higher. In addition, rewarding landowners for sequestering carbon in their woods is a good way to help slow the current loss of 1.5 million acres of private forestland each year.
A TPL press release detailing the provisions of the bill can be found here:
Tags: carbon, climate, climate change legislation, conservation funding, federal funding
