Working Lands Contribution to Economic and Climate Resilience

Executive Order 14008 titled Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad seeks to identify pathways for achieving the goal of conserving at least 30% of the United States’ lands, waters and oceans by 2030. Many working lands states reacted negatively to the limited details in the initiative even though many of the recommendations submitted by agriculture groups were included in the follow up report released on May 6, 2021. Nearly two thirds of the land in the lower 48 states is privately owned and much of this is considered working agricultural land. To achieve the ambitious goal of conserving 30X30, partnership and collaboration with working lands producers is critical. Agriculture is well positioned to play an active role in climate “drawdown”, a key solution to stabilize our climate. By shifting to more climate smart agriculture practices, working lands producers can lead in their contributions to climate resilience. In fact, conserving and restoring forests, wetlands and grasslands, along with changing land management strategies can contribute over 1/3 of the mitigation needed to stabilize the climate. But simple practice changes on working lands is not that simple. In order to maximize the benefits of climate smart agriculture, a cultural shift is key. Ranchers’ value natural resources and have a strong connection to nature but are less supportive of government oversight and feel like they are unfairly blamed for the state of our current climate. Adding to this challenge is that while ranchers are responsible for stewarding these lands, they also need to make a living to support their families and positively contribute to the local communities and economies. And the biggest barrier to adopting any new practices is money. Efforts to engage ranchers on climate solutions must be tied to economic outcomes as well as protecting the natural resources for the next generation. In addition to climate, considerations of water and biodiversity outcomes must be taken into account. There is increasing interest among working lands producers to implement an initiative that would positively impact the economic wellbeing of ranchers, contribute to positive climate impacts and other environmental outcomes and strengthen rural communities creating a “win-win-win” for ranchers and the 30X30 initiative. In collaboration with grazing lands coalition in NE and SD, the Nature Conservancy is working to implement such a program that involves encouraging, incentivizing and recognizing working lands for their contribution to climate and economic resilience.

December 8, 2021 #32b PEMBROOK DAY 2