Carbon Sequestration Certification Program

Oklahoma Carbon Offset Registry

Project Information
North Canadian River Watershed Carbon Pilot Program
Project Holder	Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts	Project Description
Project Type	Ag Soil Carbon	The Carbon Pilot Program was started to develop the structure and functions of the burgeoning Oklahoma Carbon Program. The pilot was paired with the EPA-funded North Canadian River Water Quality Project, whose goal is to improve the water quality of the river between Canton Dam and Lake Overholser in western Oklahoma by reducing polluted runoff from land. Participants who sign agreements to implement new BMPs to protect water quality were offered the opportunity to sign carbon contracts. The pilot program uses this paired financial incentive from carbon offset payments and water quality program cost share monies to encourage producer participation in both projects. As part of the pilot program, practice standards are being developed and soil carbon samples are being taken from select participating fields by Oklahoma State University. The samples are for research purposes only and are not being used to quantify payments for the fields where samples were taken. 100% of acres are verified. Payments to producers: $19/acre for conversion to no-till and $1.40/acre for carbon offset. 100% of acres were verified each year.
Project Location	West Central Oklahoma (Blaine, Canadian, Dewey County)
Project Start Date	2008
Project Verification	Visual / Performance-Based
Project Verifier	Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Oklahoma Certified Tons	Yr 1: 3,698 (9,289 acres) Yr 2: 3,545 (8,925 acres) Yr 3: 3,024 (7,622 acres)
Project Reports	Unpublished

Project Information
Pilot Program Expansion Project
Project Holder	Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts	Project Description
Project Type	Ag Soil Carbon	This project expands upon the Pilot Program. Working with technical assistance from OK-NRCS, this project is completing the development of carbon sequestration verification protocols and practice standards for Oklahoma no-till fields and seeded grasslands. The verification methods are developed and taught to conservation districts who perform field verification as part of a supervised 4-level verifier training program overseen by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Desk audit and certification of offsets is done by the director of the Oklahoma Carbon Program. The purpose of this project is to develop, test, and implement management performance standards and carbon sequestration verification protocols for practices that are recognized to have carbon market value. Payment to producers: $0.70-$1.40/acre. 85% of contracted acres were verified year one. 100% of contracted acres were verified year two.
Project Location	Western Oklahoma (Blaine, Caddo, Canadian, Custer, Dewey, Greer, Harmon, Kiowa, Jackson, Major, Washita County)
Project Start Date	2010
Project Verification	Visual / Performance-Based
Project Verifier	Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Oklahoma Certified Tons	Yr 1: 1,886 (5,618 acres) Yr 2: 9,943 (23,085 acres)
Project Reports	Unpublished

Project Information
Pilot Program Expansion Project
Project Holder	Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts	Project Description
Project Type	Rangeland Soil Carbon	This part of the Expansion Project is developing in-field verification methodologies for the rangeland verification protocol that was developed by the Chicago Climate Exchange. This is being done with technical assistance from OK-NRCS. The intended users of the methods are grazingland management specialists, or others with equivalent knowledge. Desk audits and certification of offsets is done by the director of the Oklahoma Carbon Program in consultation with OK-NRCS. The purpose of this project is to adapt a rangeland verification protocol to Oklahoma, and to develop, test, and implement rangeland verification methods for the protocol. This project also provides to producers grazing management plans and management monitoring guidance. Conservation districts are being trained to assist producers with the monitoring and record keeping requirements of their grazing management plans. Ultimately this project aims to improve rangeland health and show producers that improved rangeland management has potential carbon market value. Payment to producers who improve their management and keep management records: $0.70/acre.
Project Location	Northwestern Oklahoma (Custer, Dewey, Woodward County)
Project Start Date	2011
Project Verification	Visual / Performance-Based
Project Verifier	Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Oklahoma Certified Tons	Yr 1: TBD
Project Reports	Unpublished

Project Information
Pilot Program Expansion Project
Project Holder	Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts	Project Description
Project Type	Forestry	This part of the Expansion Project is adapting a forest carbon verification protocol to Oklahoma. This is being done with technical assistance from Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS). The intended users of the methods are are experienced foresters. Desk audits and certification of offsets is done by the director of the Oklahoma Carbon Program in consultation with OFS. The purpose of this project is to adapt a forestry verification protocol to Oklahoma, and to develop, test, and implement forest carbon verification methods.This project also provides to forest landowners forest stewardship plans and monitoring education. Ultimately this project aims to improve forest health and show landowners that improved forest management has potential carbon market value. Payment to landowners: $3.50-$8.75/acre.
Project Location	Southeastern Oklahoma (Choctaw, LeFlore County)
Project Start Date	2011
Project Verification	Visual / Performance-Based
Project Verifier	Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Oklahoma Certified Tons	Yr 1: TBD
Project Reports	Unpublished

Project Information
ECOpass
Project Holder	Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts	Project Description
Project Type	Ag Soil Carbon	The Oklahoma Carbon Program is the verifier of carbon offsets for the Oklahoma ECOpass program. The ECOpass program gives travelers an option to offset the environmental impact of their travel by purchasing credits generated by conservation practices undertaken by farmers and ranchers, such as no-till, grass plantings, tree plantings and improved pasture management. The Oklahoma Carbon Program is using verification protocols developed during the Pilot Program and Expansion Projects.
Project Location	East Central Oklahoma (Muskogee County)
Project Start Date	2011
Project Verification	Visual / Performance-Based
Project Verifier	Oklahoma Conservation Commission
Oklahoma Certified Tons	Yr 1: TBD
Project Reports	Unpublished

Last Modified on 09/12/2012

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