LEWISTON – Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District has received a USDA/NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant for a pilot program to develop a soils carbon baseline database.

The baseline is necessary for the establishment of a soils carbon credit program in the state. A carbon credit program will allow farmers and other landowners to participate in a voluntary market, selling carbon offset credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange or through another entity.

The pilot program will be started in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties. Though the program begins in those two counties, it is intended to be a state-wide initiative, beginning with education and outreach this fall.

Information will be gathered that will be used to model existing carbon stores. Once the baseline is established, management practices that will increase carbon will be modeled. The difference between the two, or the net carbon gain, can be used as a credit or offset and sold to companies that need to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.

A carbon credit program has the potential to provide extra income to landowners who wish to implement conservation practices that will increase carbon storage. Additional co-benefits of the program will include reduction in harm to water quality, the maintenance of open space and land productivity and protection of wildlife habitat.

When the pilot in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties is completed, another phase of the program will include all other counties in the state.

Other partners in the effort include Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, University of Southern Maine, Maine Association of Conservation Districts, Maine Rural Partners, Farm Energy Partners Network and Time and Tide RC&D. Letters of support were received from Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Tom Allen. Additional partnerships are welcome and the district is pursuing funding to enlarge the program.

The district invites landowners who may be interested in participation in the pilot project to call 753-9400, ext. 3.