The Forest of Claytor Nature Center as a Carbon Offset; Assessing the Sequestration Potential and Socioeconomic Implications
Location
Room 207, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
98
Start Date
4-5-2023 9:15 AM
End Date
4-5-2023 9:30 AM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Environmental Science
Keywords
Carbon Market, Carbon Offset, Biomass, Claytor Nature Center
Abstract
An increasing urgency and popularity of the carbon market resulted from the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions offsets from forests which are key to the fight against climate change. Cap and trade programs across the globe limit the amount of emissions an organization can produce and to neutralize unavoidable emissions, organizations can purchase carbon offsets from carbon sink owners, such as private landowners. The University of Lynchburg’s Claytor Nature Center’s 332-acre forest could be a viable revenue source because of its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere. In this research, the potential number of annual offsets from Claytor Forest will be measured through a manual biomass survey. I will assess tree quantity, size, height, and species in 1/10-acre samples and use existing biomass equations to calculate how much profit the forest can bring to the university and which tree species will be best to plant for added profit and emissions reductions. A cost benefit analysis of this forest offset project will be conducted because the school is currently purchasing reduction credits elsewhere to be considered “Carbon-neutral.” This research is important because the school is experiencing a budget crisis, without the utilization of Claytor Forest the university will continue to struggle financially. Campuses and communities can play a large role with the strategic environmental planning of their land. With the exponential growth of carbon’s economic value, I hope to assign an economic value to Claytor Forest’s community benefit and global impact since the forest provides a variety of significant services beyond GHG emissions removal. This research will also provide economic worth to something that previously only had intrinsic value and allow everyone to grasp the positive impact of every single tree in the global fight against climate change. This research investigates and offers potential solutions to three key questions. Can the biomass of Claytor forest offset a considerable amount of the University’s emissions to help retain carbon neutrality? Will the revenue of the carbon offsets be able to support the school during the financial deficit? Is the carbon market an appropriate method to mitigating climate change?
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Laura Henry-Stone Dr. David Perault Dr. Thomas Shahady Dr. Price Blair
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The Forest of Claytor Nature Center as a Carbon Offset; Assessing the Sequestration Potential and Socioeconomic Implications
Room 207, Schewel Hall
An increasing urgency and popularity of the carbon market resulted from the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions offsets from forests which are key to the fight against climate change. Cap and trade programs across the globe limit the amount of emissions an organization can produce and to neutralize unavoidable emissions, organizations can purchase carbon offsets from carbon sink owners, such as private landowners. The University of Lynchburg’s Claytor Nature Center’s 332-acre forest could be a viable revenue source because of its ability to remove carbon from the atmosphere. In this research, the potential number of annual offsets from Claytor Forest will be measured through a manual biomass survey. I will assess tree quantity, size, height, and species in 1/10-acre samples and use existing biomass equations to calculate how much profit the forest can bring to the university and which tree species will be best to plant for added profit and emissions reductions. A cost benefit analysis of this forest offset project will be conducted because the school is currently purchasing reduction credits elsewhere to be considered “Carbon-neutral.” This research is important because the school is experiencing a budget crisis, without the utilization of Claytor Forest the university will continue to struggle financially. Campuses and communities can play a large role with the strategic environmental planning of their land. With the exponential growth of carbon’s economic value, I hope to assign an economic value to Claytor Forest’s community benefit and global impact since the forest provides a variety of significant services beyond GHG emissions removal. This research will also provide economic worth to something that previously only had intrinsic value and allow everyone to grasp the positive impact of every single tree in the global fight against climate change. This research investigates and offers potential solutions to three key questions. Can the biomass of Claytor forest offset a considerable amount of the University’s emissions to help retain carbon neutrality? Will the revenue of the carbon offsets be able to support the school during the financial deficit? Is the carbon market an appropriate method to mitigating climate change?