 Basic
Information
Forestry and agricultural activities are widely recognized as potential
greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation options. Activities in forestry and agriculture
can reduce and avoid the atmospheric buildup of the three most important
GHGs directly emitted by human actions: carbon dioxide (CO2),
methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). CO2 is
the gaseous form of carbon bound with oxygen atoms.
The removal of atmospheric CO2 through sequestration in carbon "sinks"
is a mitigation option in forestry and agriculture that has received
particular attention. Sequestration is defined as the process of increasing
the carbon content of a carbon pool other than the atmosphere. Carbon
pools in forestry and agriculture include tree biomass (roughly 50% carbon),
soils and wood products. A carbon pool is a sink if, over a certain time
interval, more carbon is flowing into the pool than is flowing out of
the pool. Likewise, a carbon pool can be a net source of CO2 emissions
if less carbon is flowing into the pool than is flowing out of the pool.
Individual carbon sequestration and GHG mitigation options in forestry
and agriculture include:
- tree planting
- forest management activities that enhance tree growth over time
- forest preservation
- conservation tillage practices on agricultural lands
- agricultural livestock and nutrient management that lead to CH4 and
N2O reductions
- biofuel offsets of fossil fuels (derived from bioenergy crops such
as switchgrass)
EPA is conducting and supporting analyses in this area. This includes
assessing the carbon sequestration and GHG mitigation potential for U.S.
forestry and agriculture, conducting annual inventories of sequestration
rates and emissions, assessing project-based activities and issues, exploring
international opportunities, and identifying co-benefits of these forestry
and agricultural activities. This Web site provides information on these
subjects.
The links provided in this Web site can also direct you to what other
key agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department
of Energy, are pursuing in this area.
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