Edenfort Initiative
Welcome to Edenfort
Edenfort, LLC is a joint venture between Climate Smart Group and ClimeCo Corporation, two companies with a combined 20 years of experience developing carbon offset projects for the North American carbon markets. Edenfort was formed to address a growing need in the marketplace for high quality carbon offsets based on agricultural land management and the conservation of natural ecological systems. The preservation of native grasslands is an important tool in the protection of our environment against the effects of climate change.
Over the last 8 years, we have not seen any real uptake from US based agriculture to participate in the carbon markets. Focusing on the conservation of grasslands provides the first financially feasible and real opportunity for land owners.Shahira Esmail, Climate Change & Sustainability Advisor
Grasslands, sometimes called prairies, can be defined as areas that are dominated by grass or grass-like vegetation. They are typically found in moderately arid regions and, due to seasonal disturbances such as floods, fires, or grazing, are less conducive to the growth of other vegetation, such as trees or shrubs. Much of the American Midwest is characterized by rolling hills of native grasslands; these prairies are a fundamental part of America’s heritage, with generations of ranchers making a living by working the lands.
We know grasslands are very important to our ecosystem. They serve a multitude of purposes: establishing a natural habitat, providing a food source for livestock and wildlife, and preventing soil erosion, just to name a few. Grasslands also play an increasingly important role in the protection of our environment. Since greenhouse gases (GHGs) are trapped in grassland soils, disturbing these soils through tillage or other forms of development releases GHGs into the atmosphere. Second to fossil fuel combustion, land use changes represent one of the largest sources of GHG emissions on the planet. Edenfort is committed to addressing these issues and supporting landowners with opportunities to preserve their grassland and receive financial benefits.
Read our blog: More Than Grassland
Some Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Carbon Offset Projects from Grasslands Work?
To create an offset project, an individual or a group of landowners with significant grassland acreage in areas that are otherwise suitable for conversion to cropland must place their land into perpetual conservation easements. Under an easement, activities that do not disturb the soil, such as livestock grazing, are still permissible on the land. Once approved by a carbon registry, the projects are then eligible to generate carbon offsets, which can be sold to voluntary offset buyers.
What are the Benefits to the Landowner for Participating in a Carbon Offset Project?
There are several benefits to placing land into perpetual conservation easements. First, the sale of carbon offsets can provide a long-term revenue stream for the landowner. Additionally, easements provide landowners with a means of protecting the legacy and heritage of lands that have been held in their families for generations. There are also significant tax benefits for the landowner, including federal and state tax credits. Finally, for landowners that wish to pass their lands on to the next generation, conservation easements can help reduce estate taxes.
What Can Edenfort Do for Me?
As experienced investors and project developers in the carbon offset market, Edenfort can assist with capital and operating expenses and can guide landowners through the entire project. This may include assessing the suitability of your property, conducting financial analyses, establishing a partnership with an appropriate land conservancy, and assisting in the independent project verification and registration process with an approved offset registry. Finally, once the offsets have been generated, Edenfort will market and sell them to end users.
In addition to our project development expertise, Edenfort can also assist organizations with the procurement of carbon offsets to meet their sustainability goals, as well as assist non-profit land trusts that are interested in participating in the development of an offset project.
How Can I Learn More?
Please leave a comment on our
“Contact Us” page to learn more about how grasslands can protect our environment or to discuss how to develop an offset project on your property.
