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Trees at Cascade Head, Oregon (ALL RIGHTS) April 2016. The Conservancy's Cascade Head Preserve in North of Lincoln City, Oregon. The Conservancy bought Cascade Head in 1966 and continues to protect the critical habitat for native prairie grasses, rare wildflowers and the Oregon silverspot butterfly. Photo credit: © The Nature Conservancy (Devan King) © Devan King/The Nature Conservancy

Stories in Oregon

Oregon Forests and Farms Can Fight Climate Change

Farms and forests mean different things to different people, but we should all consider them important tools in the fight against climate change. A new joint study from researchers at Portland State University and The Nature Conservancy in Oregon found that natural and working lands have the potential to reduce emissions and help limit the impacts of climate change when paired with a transition to clean, renewable energy. 

Led by PSU post-doctoral researcher Rose Graves and Ryan Haugo, The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Science, the study shows that land management—the ways in which we manage, restore and protect our forests, agricultural lands and riparian areas, in particular, could have meaningful impact on Oregon’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. 

"This study demonstrated that climate-smart management and restoration of Oregon’s natural and working lands has an important role to play in helping to avoid the worst impacts of climate change on a global scale," said Haugo. 

Quote: Ryan Haugo

Natural climate solutions in Oregon could provide the equivalent of eliminating the emissions from 63,000 to over 200,000 more passenger vehicles per year than business as usual.

Director of Conservation Science, The Nature Conservancy in Oregon

Forests and Farms Can Be Carbon-Storing Superstars 

The study found that climate-informed forestry and agricultural practices have the greatest potential to lower emissions. Using cover crops and no-till methods on Oregon’s farmland and allowing trees to grow longer on a portion of Oregon’s working forests would store more carbon while creating healthier soil and habitats. Reforestation along riverbanks and replanting after wildfires would also have major impact. 

COVER CROPS
Cover Crops Farming practices such as cover crops and no-till methods can help the soil store more carbon. © Colette Kessler / USDA NRCS
Ellsworth Creek Preserve
Forest Management Climate-smart management of Oregon's forests has huge potential to fight climate change. © Chris Crisman
Cover Crops Farming practices such as cover crops and no-till methods can help the soil store more carbon. © Colette Kessler / USDA NRCS
Forest Management Climate-smart management of Oregon's forests has huge potential to fight climate change. © Chris Crisman

Every Little Bit of Nature Helps

While forests and farms would have the greatest impact, the study found that taking advantage of the full suite of natural climate solutions would yield the best results. The protection and restoration of grasslands and sagebrush-steppe in Eastern Oregon would contribute to emissions reductions on a smaller scale. The potential of tidal wetlands and estuaries, which store an impressive amount of carbon per acre, was also studied. Though the total estuarine acreage in Oregon is relatively small, the restoration of tidal wetlands provides important habitat for fish and wildlife and should not be overlooked.  

Quote: Rose Graves

In most cases, these natural climate solutions would provide co-benefits like cleaner water, improved soil health, flood protection, or habitat for native species.

Post-Doctoral Researcher, Portland State University

The Way Forward is Not Business as Usual

“At present, we are not on track to reduce emissions enough to limit the worst impacts of climate change,” notes Haugo. “This study provides a path forward for state leaders, landowners and managers to reduce carbon emissions, while helping to ensure that those who live and work on the land don’t bear the brunt of climate change.”