This week the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) released a new report: General Assessment of the Role of Agriculture and Forestry in U.S. Carbon Markets. This report highlights the critical role that U.S. farmers, ranchers and forest landowners can play in using natural climate solutions to fight climate change. The Nature Conservancy applauds the U.S.D.A for this forward momentum in implementing the Growing Climate Solutions Act, federal legislation passed in 2022 to support the agriculture and forestry sectors’ efforts to participate in the voluntary carbon market.
The following is a statement by Alix Murdoch, senior policy advisor for The Nature Conservancy:
“In issuing this robust report, the U.S.D.A. makes important progress toward addressing the challenges that many landowners face when it comes to accessing the voluntary carbon market so they can implement natural climate solutions.
The voluntary carbon market is a necessary tool to fund these solutions and can offer rural landowners and owners of small, family forests additional money by paying for sustainable farming, ranching and forestry practices. To make the most of the voluntary carbon market and ensure maximum impact for the climate, landowners need access to reliable, science-based resources. This report is evidence that the U.S.D.A. is taking steps toward providing landowners with the tools they need for success.”