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Ecological Restoration and NIMBY – Nature in My Back Yard! Presented by:. BENEFITS OF PLANTING RIPARIAN BUFFERS & REFORESTATION. WHY ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION?. Some reasons for restoration, such as water quality improvements, are obvious. Before. After.
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Ecological Restoration and NIMBY – Nature in My Back Yard! Presented by: BENEFITS OF PLANTING RIPARIAN BUFFERS & REFORESTATION
WHY ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION? Some reasons for restoration, such as water quality improvements, are obvious...... Before After
But there are other beneficial reasons..... for planting forested riparian buffers!!
Including removing excess CO2 from the atmosphere through vegetation and storage in biomass and soils! THIS IS KNOWN AS THE PROCESS OF: CARBON SEQUESTRATION Source: Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2005
A carbon sequestration forested riparian buffer demonstration project by a unique partnership: On the lands of Lancaster General Hospital East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, PA
Little Conestoga Creek Watershed (65.5 Square miles) Demonstration Site Location
Forested Riparian Buffer Planting Area: 3.22 acres (Approximately 1,100 feet long X 120 feet wide)
Streamside Buffer Planting Zone Shrubs Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum) 25 Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) 25 Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum) 10 Smooth Alder (Alnus serrulata) 10 Trees American Sycamore (Planatus occidentalis) 50 Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) 25 River Birch (Betula nigra) 25 Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) 25 Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)50 Total Streamside Plantings 260 Outer Buffer Planting Zone Shrubs Shadbush Serviceberry (Amerlanchier canadensis) 50 Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) 25 Blackhaw (Vibrunum prunifolium) 25 Trees Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) 50 Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) 10 Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) 25 Red Bud (Cercis canadensis) 25 Red Oak (Quercus rubra) 50 Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) 50 Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) 50 Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 25 Total Outer Plantings385 Total Trees and Shrubs Planted: 645
Healthy Tree and Shrub Stock: 3” x 3” x 9” Potted Containers
This Beats Digging with a Shovel: Using a Power Auger on Wheels!
Involving the Future Generation – The Key to Tomorrow's Success!
Environmental Credit Markets or Multi-Credit Trading • Water quality • Carbon Sequestration/Offsets • Wetlands Mitigation Banking • Endangered Species Habitat • Groundwater Recharge/Flood Control
Mechanics of a Demonstration Multi-Credit Trade • Conservation Easement for 25-year Term with LCC • Nutrient Reduction Credits • Carbon Sequestration Offsets • Contracts
6+acres of soybeans • No-Till • Poultry Manure Application for Fertilizer • Rotation - Year 2 Corn Nutrient Reduction Credits
Use N & P calculation spreadsheets developed for DEP trading program for forested buffer BMP • N = 40 credits/yr • P = 1 credit/yr • Relatively low results due to very moderate slope and low P concentration in soils at site. • PA DEP nutrient trading website: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/river/Nutrient%20Trading.htm Results
Site Visit and Baseline Analysis in April 2008 with assistance from Environmental Resources Trust • Estimated Seq. Rate: 1.07 tC/ac/year sequester appr. (Elm/Ash/Cottonwood for years 0-35) Source – USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis estimates • Total Sequestration = 80.25 tC • ERT to issue letter of attestation 10yrs. after installation to enable voluntary registration of carbon sequestration with US Department of Energy 1605(b) Registry. Carbon Credits
25-year conservation easement on forested buffer. Title to be held by LCC • LCC to assist with annual monitoring under contract with PEC • Contract – PEC and LGH for maintenance of buffer and transfer of env. credits • Contract – Transfer of env. credits from PEC to Exelon, Inc. Many Moving Parts
PA Nutrient Trades: • Mount Joy Borough: 11,718 N credits for $3.81, 3 yrs. • Dunn Lake: 223 N credits for $9, 5yrs. • Dunn Lake: 3 P credits for $4, 5yrs. • Hamm Equities, LLC: 1592 N credits for $9, 5yrs. • Hamm Equities, LLC: 73 credits for $4, 5yrs. Nutrient Trading Contd.
Chicago Climate Exchange CCX: $4.75 T http://www.chicagoclimateexchange.com/ • European Climate Exchange ECX: Dec Contract: 19-22 Euros/Tonne 140 Mt EUAs (emission allowances) traded on ECX in Feb 2008 http://www.europeanclimateexchange.com Carbon Markets
Public involvement is available now Program Highlights for Municipalities http://www.globalemissionsexchange.com
GEX Value and Uniqueness • The People’s Exchange – allows creating carbon management programs at community, municipal or individual organization • Comprehensive solutions for emissions component of “sustainability programs” • Immediate qualification, quantification, tracking, aggregation, and trading of carbon emissions credits • Fractional Carbonaccounting for individuals, states, cities, municipalities and corporations
Emissions Tracking Made Easy Local Government Energy Conservation & Emissions Reduction Initiative “Municipality Challenge” Dept 1 GEX works to implement local Government Initiatives and coordinate all departments/agencies Dept 2 Public
Difference between “Talking Green” or “Going Green” • PROACTIVE – Embark on comprehensive energy conservation programs with associated emissions reductions • BENEFITS – Reduce overheads, generate emissions offsets, self-generated carbon footprint reduction • PASSIVE – Buy emissions offsets on market • BENEFITS – Achieves footprint offset