Michigan Conservation Climate Initiative
Michigan
Land Use |
Cropland, Grazing Land, Recreational land, Forestland |
Focus |
Incentive Program |
Resource Concern |
Air Quality |
Purpose |
The environmental purpose of this program is to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. Conservation practices store carbon in the soil and plants that would otherwise form carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Manure digesters produce energy and prevent methane from being released to the atmosphere. Both carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. |
Landowner Benefits |
The landowner benefits from this program by receiving financial incentive for participating in carbon sequestration. |
Description |
The Michigan Conservation & Climate Initiative (MCCI) rewards farmers and landowners for being good stewards of the land. By practicing conservation tillage or planting grasses and trees, farmers and landowners are offsetting industrial air pollution through carbon sequestration, a service for which companies are willing to pay. This market-based approach pays landowners for providing a valuable ecosystem service—-all without government intervention. The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX®) allows greenhouse gas benefits from conservation practices to be quantified, credited and sold. The credits are aggregated, or pooled, from many different producers and landowners in order to sell them to CCX® members that have made voluntary commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas contributions. CCX® members include large companies, municipalities, and institutions, and they must either reduce their emissions or mitigate their emissions through the purchase of credits like those generated by MCCI. |
Practices |
Conservation tillage, Grass plantings, Tree Plantings, and Methane Digesters |
Costs to Landowner |
None |
Eligibility |
The land must be able to be cropped, or have a history of cropping. The grass plantings, tree plantings, and methane digesters must have been established after January 1, 1999. |
Contract |
3 year contract with the Delta Institute |
Other Notes |
Visit www.michiganclimate.org for more information. |
Landowner Initiation |
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