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Implementing Conservation Practices that Increase Carbon Sequestration and Reduce GHG Emission Dr. Adam S. Chambers Air Quality Scientist West National.

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Presentation on theme: "Implementing Conservation Practices that Increase Carbon Sequestration and Reduce GHG Emission Dr. Adam S. Chambers Air Quality Scientist West National."— Presentation transcript:

1 Implementing Conservation Practices that Increase Carbon Sequestration and Reduce GHG Emission Dr. Adam S. Chambers Air Quality Scientist West National Technology Support Center USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service adam.chambers@por.usda.gov adam.chambers@por.usda.gov

2 Summary  Conservation Practices can increase resilience to extreme weather events and climate variability on agricultural lands  Conservation Practices can reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration on agricultural lands  USDA is developing quantitative tools to put numbers with what we know in our heart is ‘good conservation’  Quantification of conservation benefits can enable producers to voluntarily implement conservation and have these benefits recognized as Ecosystem Services – option of participating in Environmental Markets

3 Setting the Context

4 Global Balance Agriculture and Forestry – 2 x Exposed Carbon Sequestration and GHG Mitigation Climate Change Adaptation Less Investment Future Don’t Invest Now Modest Investment Now More Investment Future

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6 U.S. Agriculture and the Atmosphere: Three Main Greenhouse Gases(GHG) and Numerous Diffuse Sources and Sinks Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) Methane (CH 4 ) IPCC 2007

7 Percentage of GHG Emissions in 2009. EPA, 2011 U.S. Ag. Sources by Greenhouse Gas

8 U.S. Agriculture Sector is a Small Percentage (7.81%) of the U.S. GHG Emissions Inventory A small percentage of a large emissions number… 7.81% of 5,921.5 Tg = 462.3 Tg* Note: As US fossil fuel emissions decline, ag. could become larger percentage of U.S. emissions. * EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990 – 2010, (incl. sinks)

9 The U.S Ag. Sector – 462.3** **Based on the World Resources Institute, Climate Data Explorer, 2010 data on a GDP basis the U.S. Ag Sector would rank 28 th according to World Bank 2007 GDP statistics ***In 2010 California’s economy was 9 th largest in the world NRCS Voluntary Conservation Opportunity! Conservation Opportunity: Produce more food, fiber and fuel - sequester carbon and reduce emissions through working lands conservation California – 449.6 (7% ag)

10 How does the sector capitalize on a conservation business opportunities? Where does the funding come from? How do we quantify the benefits?

11 IPCC 2007 Agricultural GHG sources and sinks – Conservation Opportunity

12 Improved Agricultural Practices – Reduce and Sequester (and Adapt) Conservation tillageConservation buffers Cover crops Improved rotations Soil organic matter CO 2 Avoided Grassland Conversion

13 Leverage Conservation Partnerships and Market Ecosystem Services

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15 Percentage of GHG Emissions in 2009. EPA, 2011 U.S. Ag. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

16 In order for the markets to function we need:  Market Confidence (or mandate) – credits must be real  Third-party Verification  Pilot projects to cut the pathway  Buyers and Sellers  Transparent Quantification Techniques  Ag credits provide co-benefits and ancillary benefits

17 COMET-Farm Quantification Tool www.comet-farm.com

18 COMET-Farm Utilize NRCS Data Sources like the Soil Survey Data

19 COMET-Farm is supported by:  US GHG Inventory Methods,  Peer-Reviewed Publications, and  Science-Based Methods document developed by USDA’s Climate Change Program Office (pending)

20 Summary  Conservation Practices can increase resilience to extreme weather events and climate variability on agricultural lands  Conservation Practices can reduce GHG emissions and increase carbon sequestration on agricultural lands  USDA is developing quantitative tools to put numbers with what we know in our heart is ‘good conservation’  Enable producers to voluntarily implement conservation and have these benefits recognized as Ecosystem Services – option of participating in Environmental Markets

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22 Extra Slide – COMET-Farm Baseline and Emission Reduction Explanatory Slide COMET-Farm can be found at www.comet-farm.comwww.comet-farm.com

23 Carbon Sequestration and GHG Emissions Change Time 0 2013 Historical Management (1980 – Present) Business-as-usual (2013-2023) 2023 Implement Conservation Practice Avg. Carbon Sequestration or Emissions Mitigation Avg. Emissions Understanding COMET-Farm (Inventories) and Carbon Trading


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