Application and Development of Appropriate Tools
and Technologies for Cost-Effective Carbon Sequestration
Project # 41151

Primary Performing Organization
The Nature Conservancy

Deforestation accounts for about 20% of annual global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the primary greenhouse gas (GHG).  In turn, 12–15% of CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel use between 1995 and 2050 could be offset by slowing tropical deforestation, allowing forests to regenerate and engaging in certain types of agronomy.  This project will validate technology and develop protocols to measure carbon in both soils and above-ground vegetation.  This is important because efforts such as reforestation may not gain the credibility they deserve without the refinement of tools and technologies that provide cost-effective and accurate measurements of the amount of carbon sequestered.

This project will focus on gaining cost-effective, verified measurements of the long-term potential of terrestrial sequestration strategies and the evaluation of land use practices.  Newly developed aerial and satellite-based technologies will be used to study forestry projects in the United States and Belize (Central America).  Software models designed to predict how soil and vegetation store carbon also will be tested.  See photographs.

The objectives of the project are to:

• Improve carbon monitoring and lower its cost.
• Develop land-use trend models to project potential CO₂ offsets.
• Evaluate and standardize carbon monitoring methods and procedures.
• Evaluate domestic land-use options for reducing greenhouse gases.
• Develop software for initial feasibility screening of potential domestic projects.

Contact:
Project Manager:  Heino Beckert, heino.beckert@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Application and Development of Appropriate Tools and Technologies for Cost-Effective Carbon Sequestration Fact Sheet (pdf)