By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

Helen Keller was a writer, speaker, and advocate for the rights of disabled people.  She lost her sight and hearing before she was two years old.  She said this about the importance of individual action:

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something…I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

She wasn’t speaking about climate change. But as a general principle, her advice is still sound.

And there are plenty of ways we, regular people, can help in the fight against climate change.

Some things we can do are easy and save money as well; like turning down the thermostat a few degrees at night, combining errands and visits to friends to save on gas, and sealing cracks and air leaks around windows and doors.

Others take more effort and cash upfront to get bigger, long-term savings, like swapping out your creaky old furnace for a heat pump, or finding out if your place is a good candidate for solar panels.

And if you have 30 acres of forest or more, you have a special way to help.

Forests cover a quarter-billion acres of land in the U.S. A lot of that is state and national forests and parks — huge swathes of woodlands, but family-owned forests account for 39 percent of our country’s forested land.

That offers big potential to take advantage of “carbon markets” — if you know how.

Starting from square one is technically challenging, and very time-consuming. You can skip the learning curve, with the Family Forest Carbon Program-- a complete resource for landowners.

The program provides all the advice and tools you need. Developed by the American Forest Foundation and The Nature Conservancy, the Family Forest Carbon Program enables you to access carbon markets, putting your forest to work to help slow climate change, while earning income from your land.

Naysayers will tell you it’s not a lot of money - and that’s true! Nobody is getting rich off the Family Forest Carbon Program, but every family that takes part is helping slow climate change and protecting their kids’ future.

If nothing else, you’ll be tending your land in a way that protects drinking water!

It can’t hurt to find out more.

Start here: 

-- Family Forest Carbon Program

-- Union Of Concerned Scientists: Climate Disinformation

Visit the Clean Water Is Up To You webpage for more articles in this series.

Nature At Risk Series

-- Nature At Risk: The American Bald Eagle Flies High Once More - By Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association, Monroe County

Visit the Nature At Risk webpage for more articles in this series.

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Brodhead Watershed Association website or Follow them on Facebook.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Association.  Click Here to become a member.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

Check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report to find out how clean streams are near you.

(Photo: Laura & Mike Jackson enrolled 113 acres in the program, Chesapeake Bay Journal.)

Related Articles:

-- Family Forest Carbon Program Now Open Across Pennsylvania Provides New Revenue Opportunities For Forest Landowners; 60 Enrolled So Far Covering 10,000 Acres  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal: Money Grows On Trees For Owners Who Manage Small Forests To Capture Carbon, Fight Climate Change  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 27, 2022]

10/31/2022