An Extension workshop, Carbon Farming in New Mexico, was held in Albuquerque, NM, on July 26, 2023. Presentation summaries and videos from the workshop are provided here.
The Role of Carbon Management in Climate Change Mitigation
Climate change is the greatest threat to humanity today. Understanding the carbon cycle and managing carbon can help mitigate climate change impacts. This keynote presentation by Dr. Sanna Savanto provides an overview of climate change, its impacts, and mitigation strategies. Specifically, this presentation highlights nature-based solutions and summarizes opportunities and challenges for New Mexico.
Managing Soil Carbon
in New Mexico
Rangelands
In this presentation, Dr. Joel Brown discusses a basic understanding of the rangeland carbon cycle, net primary productivity, and drivers of carbon storage. This talk also covers processes and principles of carbon sequestration in rangelands and provides information on management systems to increase carbon storage. It also highlights how models help estimate and document carbon storage at scales.
Carbon Farming in Agroecosystems
This presentation discusses carbon management issues in New Mexico croplands, basic processes involved in cropland carbon sequestration, and management strategies for improving soil carbon storage. Dr. Rajan Ghimire also shared results from ongoing work at ASC Clovis and outlined further work needed to enhance carbon sequestration. He emphasized ways to manage carbon and water together for greater benefits.
Carbon Management in Forest Ecosystems
This presentation discusses carbon offset systems, carbon registries, and considerations for carbon offset in forest ecosystems. Dr. Matthew Hurteau also provides an overview of carbon management in southwest forests, specifically New Mexico forest lands. This talk also covers reforestation and forest fire management opportunities in New Mexico.
Carbon Markets and Program Offerings
This presentation by Dr. Brekke Peterson is about carbon market basics, how they operate, carbon sequestration practices descriptions, and how the carbon credit program works. She focuses on the voluntary carbon market and how the Agoro Carbon Alliance monitors, verifies, and provides carbon credit to producers. She also provides opportunities for cropland and crop-livestock producers.
Carbon Opportunities for NM - Panel Discussion
The panel discussion covered progress on ongoing carbon management projects and research needed to enhance carbon storage and stability in New Mexico. The panel also discussed the challenges of arid/semi-arid regions and the costs associated with carbon management practices. We also outlined potential priorities for New Mexico to sequester carbon or best manage it.
