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The Office of Environmental Markets (OEM) supports the Secretary in the development of emerging markets for carbon sequestration, water quality, wetlands, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services. Environmental markets have the potential to become a new economic driver for rural America, supporting a bold, creative future for America's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
OEM was established in response to the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, America’s Farm Bill. Section 2709 of the Conservation Title directs the Secretary to facilitate the participation of America's farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in environmental markets. As set forth by Congress in the Farm Bill, OEM will work across government and in consultation with experts and stakeholders to build a market-based system for quantifying, registering, and verifying the environmental benefits produced by land management activities.
Farm Bill Section 2709: Environmental Services Markets
Economic Research Report: The Use of Markets to Increase Private Investment in Environmental Stewardship
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