How does Nature-Based Carbon Sequestration Work?

How can you earn carbon credits on working lands? Can you still harvest timber or conduct your other operations? Check out the video below to answer these questions and more. 

What we covered

• Sequester: to capture + store

• Carbon sequestration: the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2)

“Nature-based carbon sequestration” is the process by which carbon gets absorbed into nature – plants, soil, and oceans. This carbon uptake is driven by photosynthesis, the mechanism by which plants use sunlight to synthesize foods from CO2 and water. In doing so, they reduce atmospheric CO2.

Different ecosystems store carbon in different ways. 

Plant matter and soil can both increase their carbon content over time, but only if they are well managed. When a forest is cut down or degraded or a farm field is eroded, carbon gets released back into the atmosphere. This makes good stewardship of the land essential to managing atmospheric CO2. You may also hear good stewardship activities referred to as "climate smart" practices: they're ones that take our changing climate into account, and work towards a more sustainable relationship with the land. For forest landowners, one step in this direction is following a forest management plan, a set of guidelines for managing a forest that aligns with the landowner’s goals and vision for the property.