Natural lands in Maine currently sequester large amounts of carbon. Trees over 40 years old sequester carbon at a greater annual rate than younger trees, so planting new forests has more long term benefits than immediate ones. Instituting a national carbon sequestration system would be the best economic incentive to motivate large timber companies to commit specific areas of their forest lands to 50 years between harvesting. Carbon credit markets are operating in California and British Columbia, where the purchase of carbon credits provides income to projects that sequester carbon. However the $10/ton price of carbon stored as a carbon credit is not sufficient to incentivize Maine forest management companies to put any of their extensive forest lands into longer term management. Trees are now cut at 40 years of age, and unless there is a conservation easement on the forest, private timber lands aren’t protected from development.
Since Maine now sequesters large amounts of carbon through its forests and farms, Mainers have only a short way to go in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to our goal of a net zero level. However as the Climate Council recommends, Maine must continue to maintain it’s under 2 1/2 acre timber clearcutting limit, keep the same acreage in timber management, and continue to add acreage for farming.
Maine has an excellent training program for beginning farmers in organic and sustainable agriculture plus large amounts of previously farmed lands growing back to forests. Many new small to medium size farmers have started in Maine in the past 20 years with our successful farm transfer programs. However, the acreage under cultivation has decreased with smaller, more intense vegetable production replacing many dairy farms that used larger fields.
The principles and practices of organic and sustainable agriculture promote increasing organic matter in our soils. Organic matter is all carbon based, so organic managed soils store carbon. By using cover crops, leaving crop residues on the fields, adding perennial crops and keeping all soil surfaces covered with plants, farms store carbon. Plowing of soil is minimized, manures and compost are rototilled prior to planting, to feed a complex living soil ecology that retains water and feeds crops. Please do your part to store carbon, support Maine farmers, and improve your health by buying local Maine meats, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.