Preserving Oaks for Life
Trees are working for us every day, cleaning pollution out of the air, providing shade on a hot day, and reducing local flooding by slowing rainfall. Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O), which we need to live. They store the carbon (C) in their trunks, branches, and roots, where it is held for the life of the trees.
As we grapple with the effects of a changing climate, trees are one of the best allies humans have to slow the buildup of CO2 in the atmosphere, and all we have to do is allow them to live out their natural lives.
In McHenry County, the dominant trees historically were oaks, which can live for hundreds of years, storing tons of carbon during their lifetimes. But, sadly, McHenry County loses more oaks to neglect, development and clearing for agriculture than we preserve each year.
What if there were a way to reverse this trend, and start to save more oak woodlands than we lose?
In 2022, the Land Conservancy of McHenry County partnered with City Forest Credits (CFC), a nonprofit carbon registry, to develop carbon credits tied to the preservation of 80 acres of oak woodlands in McHenry County. CFC’s program targets preservation of forests in urban areas where the forests are most at risk of being cut down.
Each carbon credit is equal to one metric ton of carbon being stored in a forest over a 40-year timeframe. The credits are held in an online registry, and made available for sale through various carbon markets. These credits are available for purchase by businesses and individuals who want to offset their carbon emissions and support a local land trust preserving local forests.
TLC recently completed two sales: to an individual and to Chicago Events Management (CEM operates the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago 13.1, and the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle).
CEM was attracted to TLC credits as a way to help offset the carbon emissions of athletes participating in their events and invest those dollars for the benefit of local residents.
These sales will result in more than $200,000 that TLC will invest directly in maintenance of local forests, improving access to the properties for recreation, and making sure we are able to manage these woodlands forever. The carbon credit sale agreement requires TLC to take care of those oak woods for 40 years keeping the trees healthy, providing habitat for birds and mammals, cleaning pollutants from the air, and storing carbon.
City Forest Credits is the national standard for greenhouse gas emission reduction and removal for tree projects in urban areas. Developed by leading scientists, industry, and urban forest professionals, the Standard and Protocols define the set of rules and requirements that tree planting or preservation projects must follow in order to earn third-party verified carbon credits.
Do you have at least 15 acres of oaks, and would you like to explore whether carbon credits are a good fit for your property? Are you a local business or individual interested in supporting local land conservation and offsetting your carbon footprint? Then give Lisa a call at 815-337-9502 x103.