Conservation Ontario Green Economy Road Map June 15, 2012 Tom Prout, General Manager, Ausable Bayfield Conservation

1. Conservation OntarioGreen Economy Road MapJune 15, 2012Tom Prout, General Manager,Ausable Bayfield Conservation

2. What is a Green Economy? • Administration Green - things we buy • Conservation Green – things we do • Service Green – services we provide • Some Green costs us money and some Green makes us money and it all contributes to the Economy

3. Historical Green • Conservation Authorities have been contributing to a Green Economy since 1946. • Green staff • Green policies • Green services (conservation services) • Green partnerships • Now is no time to stop being Green Leaders

4. A Bit of Philosophy • We may not have the answer . . . • . . . doing nothing will guarantee we never will • Partnerships = Success • No one said partnerships are easy • Make friends with your adversaries • – no one is wrong all of the time

5. A Bit More Philosophy • Make friends with your enemies – they may have the money you need to carry out a project and you may have the expertise they need to carry out a project • Remember the old saying - insanity is “people doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” • Choice Theory – “All we can give another person is information.”

6. Information “Green Economy Road Map” – Just terms and concepts, but what do they mean? • Trying to make sense out of: • Carbon sequestration and • Future funding opportunities?

7. Information “Forests have small impact on carbon emissions.” - College of Social and Applied Human Sciences Insight, Professors Ze’ev Gedalof and Aaron Berg “The conservancy announced it is earning $4 million with the largest forest carbon-credit project in North America from its 55,000-hectare Darkwood forest in southeastern B.C.” - The Record.com

8. Trying to Understand Carbon Sequestration and Future Funding Opportunities • The carbon-offset value on 700,000 tonnes of emissions • Pacific Carbon Trust — the B.C. Crown corporation that helps market carbon offsets purchased 450,000 credits from the conservancy and the private Vancouver company Ecosystem Restoration Associates bought 250,000 credits. • Both firms will resell the credits to clients who want to meet carbon reduction goals.

9. Trying to Understand Carbon Sequestration and Future Funding Opportunities • $4 million divided by 700,000 tons = $5.71/tonnes • $4 million divided by 55,000 hectares = $72.70/ ha • 700,000 tonnes divided by 55,000 hectares = 12.7 tonnes of carbon/hectare • Credit Valley Conservation Authority’s study on ‘Present and Future Carbon Storage’ suggests they have a carbon density of 331 tonnes per hectare? Does this mean NCC has 318.3 tonnes of carbon/ha to sell?

10. Questions • 1. When trees die and decompose • is the carbon released back into the environment? • 2. How long is the agreement with the Nature Conservancy • and Pacific Carbon Trust? • 3. Is carbon stored longer if the wood is harvested (sustainably) and used for furniture and houses? • 4. The carbon credits sold by NCC are not new, • should the carbon credits be new? • 5. What value is there in ABCA’s forests, wetlands, • stewardship projects, future projects? • 6. Is the public willing to pay to offset • their personal carbon footprint?

11. Stephen Boles, MSc President, Kuzuka Ltd. ABCA Land Stewardship:An Assessment of Carbon Sequestration and Future Funding Opportunities

12. Who is Steve Boles? EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, University of Waterloo (1996) Master of Science, University of Alaska (1998) WORK EXPERIENCE Research Scientist, Climate Change Research Center, University of N.H. (1999 – 2007) President, Kuzuka Ltd., (2007 – present) Instructor (GHG Management), Sustainability Learning Centre, (2010 – present) COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

13. KUZUKA Clients

14. The Carbon Issue Rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are causing climate change: Climate change impacts many aspects of human life: FOOD PRODUCTION & SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE ADAPTATION COSTS WATER AVAILABILITY INSURANCE PREMIUM COSTS SPECIES SHIFT & EXTINCTION

15. A lot of Interest in Carbon and Greenhouse Gases O.Reg. 397/11 – mandatory GHG reporting and Energy Management Plans by all municipalities and other government organizations over next two years

16. Carbon Offsetsallow businesses or individuals to voluntarily reduce all or part of their carbon footprint that can’t be avoided by investing in GHG-reducing projects like wind farms or reforestation. Rice Husk Bio-energy Ontario Reforestation Community Ecosystem Restoration in BC Te Apiti Wind Farm Sudan Bio-sand Water Filters Madagascar Avoided Deforestation

17. Why Should ABCA Care About This? Multi-stakeholder interest in GHG and carbon A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY FOR ABCA AND ITS CONSERVATION PARTNERS

18. Objectives of Our Project Quantify the carbon storage of ABCA forest projects (new plantings and existing plots) through literature review Identify ways to communicate the carbon storage of ABCA forests to interested stakeholders by comparing it to equivalent GHG reductions Identify opportunities that are available in the private sector to obtain funding for stewardship projects (e.g. sponsorships) Recommend next steps that the ABCA should consider to begin accessing sources of private sector funding for forest projects

19. Carbon Storage in ABCA Forests

20. Carbon Storage Communication Examples

21. Sources of Funding – Corporate Sponsorships For the launch of Blue Planet enviro light bulbs, Canadian Tire donated $2 for every package of bulbs bought ($250,000 total) Donation to plant 8000 trees to celebrate launch of paperless statements ($20,000 total) Donation to greening schools program to celebrate their 50th anniversary ($85,000 total) Donation to tree planting efforts to celebrate the launch of new biodegradable pens ($20,000 total)

22. Recommendations • Provide continued support to your charitable partner organizations (e.g. Conservation Foundation, Land Trust Conservancy) as the avenue for receiving and soliciting corporate sponsorships. • Consider engaging with other stewardship organizations in southwestern Ontario to discuss the establishment of partnerships that would increase marketing opportunities and geographic coverage. • Develop a list of potential corporate sponsors for whom a relationship with ABCA would be a ‘good fit’ with their community focus and sustainability mandate (NextEra Energy, Ellison Travel, BM Ross, Bluewater Recycling, United Communities Credit Union)

23. Recommendations • Create a staff or contract position dedicated to obtaining corporate sponsorships and donations. • Develop a formal communications strategy tailored for corporate sponsorships • Establish a goal or target pertaining to watershed forest cover against which corporate sponsorships will be applied.

24. Recommendations • Use the benefits of the ABCA’s land stewardship initiatives using carbon-based themes in communication and outreach. • Update the ABCF page on the ABCA website to provide the opportunity for individuals and small businesses to donate directly through an online payment gateway.

25. Thank you!