Implementing Our Climate Protection Goals in the Ag and Forestry Sector

Plants are nature’s way of removing CO2 from the air, but when  plants are burned, or land is converted to other uses (including when forests are converted to agriculture) CO2 is released.  In fact, about 25 to 30 percent of global annual GHG emissions are due to deforestation.

While the agriculture and forest sectors represent less than 20 percent of GHG emissions in Sonoma County, they are important part of carbon management.  Our 2-part goal is to increase the ability of our forests and soils to trap GHG emissions  in soil and woody carbon keep it there as long as possible.

Because we believe in the ecologist’s motto of “it’s all connected”, the Climate Protection Campaign is coordinating its climate protection activities with multi-level government entities, as well as businesses, non-profits and individuals. For example, we encourage zoning and land use planning that, not only creates livable communities with reduced needs for fossil fuels, but also plays a big part in preserving our carbon-sequestering farms and forests.

Recently, CPC has been working with Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (The District) using their expertise in land preservation and conservation to provide viable, economical, effective climate change solutions in the agriculture and forestry sector. The District can help climate protection in two major areas: (i) Avoided conversions; (ii) Mitigation and stewardship practices post-acquisition. We hope there will be increasing opportunities for funding land stewardship projects that have climate benefits.