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Comment 42 for Comments on the RTAC (sb375-rtac-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Julia
Last Name: Gardiner
Email Address: jgardiner@tnc.org
Affiliation: The Nature Conservancy

Subject: TNC redline comments to RTAC draft report
Comment:
Dear RTAC members and CARB staff, 

The Nature Conservancy respectfully submits the attached redline
edits to the RTAC's draft report dated 8.28.09. Thank you for your
important work pulling this report together and for your
consideration of our comments.

In summary, TNC is pleased that the preservation of natural lands
is included as one of the co-benefits of compact development.
However, in order to optimize GHG emissions reductions across
sectors and preserve vital ecological services we request that the
RTAC report explicitly recognizes the impact land use decisions
have on additional GHG emissions and reductions from forests and
natural lands by adding the insert below to the "Co-benefits of
Sustainable Communities Strategies" section on page 41 of the
report. 

TNC also recommends that biological emissions and reductions and
other co-benefits be included as a factor in ARB's target setting
process (p8), and natural land preservation should included as a
performance measure (p44). Lastly, existing tools allowing improved
quantification of co-benefits should be used to enhance the models
(p45).

Please contact me with questions or for additional information. 

Thank you. 
Julia Gardiner

Insert in August 28, 2009 Draft RTAC Report (p.41)

Ecological benefits and Biological GHG emissions reduction 
Optimization of GHG Emissions Reductions Across Sectors – Compact
development that minimizes development pressure on intact forests
and natural lands reduces additional GHG emissions associated with
disturbance and conversion of these lands, preserves their ability
to continue to sequester carbon dioxide and maintains their vital
climate regulation function.
Additional Co-Benefits– land use patterns that preserve remaining
forests and other natural lands allows them to continue to provide
a full suite of critical benefits to human and natural communities
including the protection of air and water quality, recreation and
fish and wildlife habitat. 
Help Human Communities Adapt to Climate Change – Compact
development fosters the protection of natural ecosystem functions,
including natural infrastructure such as wetlands and coastal
vegetation which provide a cost effective alternative to built
structures to buffer human communities from the impacts of the more
frequent extreme weather events such as floodwaters or storms, that
are the result of a changed climate. 

Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/sb375-rtac-ws/96-draft_rtac_report_tnc_redline_recommendations_9.8.09.doc

Original File Name: Draft RTAC Report_TNC redline recommendations 9.8.09.doc

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2009-09-08 13:45:56



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