Comment Log Display

California Trout received Cap and Trade funding in 2015 to develop
the science called for in the draft Healthy Landscapes 2030 – a
methodology to quantify carbon sequestration through restoration. 
Monitoring GHG flux on 22 partner meadows across the Sierras, the
goal of the Sierra Meadow Restoration and Research Partnership (now
expanded to be the broader Sierra Meadow Partnership) is to
integrate the measure of restoration and net carbon sequestration
benefits, and vet the methodology for crediting revenue. After our
first annual conference in February, we are pleased to report
significant progress toward that goal.  It is inspiring to see our
conference discussion reflected in the principles of the Healthy
Landscapes 2030 Draft and we commend the Air Resources Board,
Natural Resources Agency, Department of Food and Agriculture, and
the Governor's Office of Planning and Research for a job well
done.
Our first comment regards the very important management and
restoration objective to “build consensus around carbon
sequestration and GHG emission quantification methodologies … and
establish a statewide inventory and accounting framework that is
compatible with project- and/or program-scale accounting.”
We believe in the application of robust science as a principle for
investment, that the opportunity to leverage existing resource
strategies is significant, and that a state-wide inventory and
accounting framework is essential to establishing an ecosystem
service economy and achieving our carbon reduction goals.
Additionally, we respectfully suggest that this framework be built
to integrate mitigation and carbon trade. As such, we recommend the
Healthy Landscapes 2030 outlines the development of a common
currency - an integrated system of measure that can value
biological, physical, and climate adaptation gains. We suggest
reviewing the Climate Community and Biodiversity Alliance standard
(CCB) and the Gold Standard - tools to quantify the co-benefits of
conservation.
Our second comment is to suggest that the targeted restoration of
Wetlands and Riparian Areas should not be limited to the Delta but,
incorporating a high-level view of resource systems and the
connectivity of Sierra headwaters to the Delta, should include a
restoration target for Sierra wetlands/riparian areas/meadows. We
suggest reviewing the Greater Sierra Meadow Strategy and
Prioritization Framework (draft) that sets out to establish
integrated goals, strategies, actions and quantitative metrics for
soil health and habitat benefits - on private and public lands - to
advance the pace and scale of meadow restoration.