Carbon credit meeting to be held

    The Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District (SASWCD) is hosting an informational meeting for interested land and forest owners to discuss carbon credits and volunteer carbon credit marketing on Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at their office, located at 304 North St, Houlton.
    The SASWCD had been working with Androscoggin Valley SWCD to collect data needed to help qualify Maine agricultural soils for agricultural carbon credits. The ultimate goal is to provide landowners who use conservation practices that increase carbon storage in soils the opportunity to sell carbon credits through a voluntary market. An additional goal is to provide information to help landowners make management decisions.
    Topics will include the conservation practices that increase carbon storage and are currently acceptable for carbon credits (including forest land), what the voluntary carbon market is about, what it looks like today and what to expect in the future, what can and cannot be done in Maine, contracts and more. After a PowerPoint presentation, all attending will have an opportunity to participate in the discussion, ask questions and indicate if they would be interested in the program when it becomes established.
    AVSWCD has received funding for this project from the USDA Risk Management Agency (in partnership with the Farm Energy Partners Network), USDA Conservation Innovation Grants, an AgEnhancement grant from Farm Credit Agency, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the Maine Association of Conservation Districts and Time and Tide Resource Conservation and Development.
    Form more information about carbon issues, what other states have been doing and the potential for selling carbon credits, call 532-9407 ext.3 to register for the free meeting.