Farming Carbon to Help the Atmosphere and the Land

2008 September 30

by USGS Newsroom

Long-standing farming practices in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta expose fragile peat soils to wind, rain and cultivation, emit carbon dioxide (CO2) and cause land subsidence.

To capture or contain the carbon, farmers would “grow” wetlands. In doing so, they would begin to rebuild the Delta’s unique peat soils, take CO2 out of the atmosphere, ease pressure on the Delta’s aging levees, and infuse the region with new economic potential.

We learn more from USGS bio-geochemist Robin Miller about how this could help California, the nation, and the world.