Foreword  vii

Preface  ix

Part I. Overview  

1. Introduction: The Role of Landowners and Farmers in the New Low-Carbon Economy  3

2. The Process of Creating Offsets  10

3. Land-Management Options for Creating Offsets  22

Part II. Steps in Determining a Project's Offsets  

4. Step 1: Scoping the Costs and Benefits of a Proposed Project  39

5. Step 2: Determining Additionality and Baselines  46

6. Step 3: Quantifying the Carbon Sequestered in Forests  52

7. Step 4: Quantifying the Carbon Sequestered in Soil  64

8. Step 5: Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Manure  75

9. Step 6: Quantifying and Minimizing Methane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Soil  84

10. Step 7: Estimating Leakage or Off-Site Emissions Caused by the Project  91

11. Step 8: Verifying and Registering Offsets  99

12: Conclusion: Putting These Guidelines into Pratice  107

Appendices  109

Notes  209

Bibliography  215

Index  223

“This manual, directed to landowners, provides a comprehensive overview of the principles that underpin carbon offsets, and the methods for quantifying them . . . . Top scientists and economists in agriculture, land use, and forestry were involved in compiling this manual . . . . Recommended.”—E. J. Kormondy, Choice

“Overall, this volume should be quite useful to anyone who needs to understand the emerging market for carbon offsets. . . . Readers with a natural resources background will find the discussion of the policy and economic aspects of carbon offset projects instructive, and those with a business or policy background will gain a good understanding of the technical aspects of quantifying the various carbon pools. For policymakers, this book is an excellent overview of a complex and growing topic. Harnessing Farms and Forests in the Low-Carbon Economy is a thorough well-written treatment of an important topic, and is a useful reference for those in agriculture, business, forestry and policy.”—Coeli M. Hoover, Environmental Conservation

“I would recommend this book because it gives farmers and landowners a thorough appreciation of the steps and challenges involved in quantifying GHG offsets from forestry and farming practices.”—Eddie Bevilacqua, Journal of Forestry

“[T]his is an important, well-conceived, and well written manual. It provides the opportunity to adopt responsible measurements and modifications of GHG flux. Now let’s get out there and do it!”—Dylan G. Fischer and Alexandra Kazakova, Environmental Practice

“This is a very simple solution to use and a valuable tool for anyone contemplating or interested in helping to mitigate global warming and becoming involved in the new low-carbon economy.”—Maren Oelbermann, Entrepreneur

“This book opens up with an entirely new paradigm for the climate change debate. . . . The book is all about giving a new form and a new character to this Imp called carbon that has created modernity, and now we have to pay a
price for it. . . . Beneath the technicalities of the book the true spirit of the work is silently lurking for academicians, environmental scientists to rise up to the call.”—Tanaya Mohanty, Electronic Green Journal

“This manual, directed to landowners, provides a comprehensive overview of the principles that underpin carbon offsets, and the methods for quantifying them . . . . Top scientists and economists in agriculture, land use, and forestry were involved in compiling this manual . . . . Recommended.”—E. J. Kormondy, Choice

“Overall, this volume should be quite useful to anyone who needs to understand the emerging market for carbon offsets. . . . Readers with a natural resources background will find the discussion of the policy and economic aspects of carbon offset projects instructive, and those with a business or policy background will gain a good understanding of the technical aspects of quantifying the various carbon pools. For policymakers, this book is an excellent overview of a complex and growing topic. Harnessing Farms and Forests in the Low-Carbon Economy is a thorough well-written treatment of an important topic, and is a useful reference for those in agriculture, business, forestry and policy.”—Coeli M. Hoover, Environmental Conservation

“I would recommend this book because it gives farmers and landowners a thorough appreciation of the steps and challenges involved in quantifying GHG offsets from forestry and farming practices.”—Eddie Bevilacqua, Journal of Forestry

“[T]his is an important, well-conceived, and well written manual. It provides the opportunity to adopt responsible measurements and modifications of GHG flux. Now let’s get out there and do it!”—Dylan G. Fischer and Alexandra Kazakova, Environmental Practice

“This is a very simple solution to use and a valuable tool for anyone contemplating or interested in helping to mitigate global warming and becoming involved in the new low-carbon economy.”—Maren Oelbermann, Entrepreneur

“This book opens up with an entirely new paradigm for the climate change debate. . . . The book is all about giving a new form and a new character to this Imp called carbon that has created modernity, and now we have to pay a
price for it. . . . Beneath the technicalities of the book the true spirit of the work is silently lurking for academicians, environmental scientists to rise up to the call.”—Tanaya Mohanty, Electronic Green Journal

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