This winter, several WSE staff members have been working closely with ranchers to help them explore Native’s Northern Great Plains Improved Grazing Carbon Program. Native is a Public Benefit Corporation offering two primary ways to support ranchers.
The first is likely what most people associate with a carbon company: helping ranchers develop a plan to increase soil health, which in turn sequesters more carbon. This is achieved through managed grazing. Each improved grazing plan is created by the rancher so that it is tailored to the specific needs and priorities of their ranch. Still, all plans align the project activities proposed by Native’s carbon program to a validated methodology approved by Verra, the leading registry and standard within the Voluntary Carbon Market.
As the ranch’s improved grazing plan is implemented, Verra’s approved auditors review the documentation of management changes to ensure they meet rigorous methodology requirements. Once these requirements are met, the project’s carbon credits are verified and sold on the carbon market through Native. While many carbon companies with grassland programs haven’t yet reached the validation and verification stage, Native is one of the first and only in the U.S. to have improved grazing grassland credits verified. This is an important distinction because it means that Native knows how to design and implement projects to the required specifications, so the risk to the rancher is substantially less. Though this process is complex for Native, it remains straightforward for the rancher.
While the potential for substantial additional income over forty years is often one of the primary motivators for producers entering into a Native carbon contract, it’s only part of the overall benefit. WSE and Native work with committed ranchers to develop grazing systems that improve forage production and increase carbon sequestration over time. As ranchers adapt their grazing strategies through the project plan, plants and soil become healthier, leading to even more vigorous plant growth and forage quality. Boosting this critical soil health ecosystem through improved grazing continues to build, further improving the land.
Additionally, Native can provide upfront funding for the first one to five years to help fund infrastructure improvements necessary for implementing the improved grazing system. This could include water development, fencing supplies, labor costs, virtual fencing, or other major expenses that are often incurred when making changes. This program is called HelpBuildTM, and Native is essentially pre-paying the rancher for carbon credits that have not yet been verified.
One common concern ranchers have is the 40-year contract, which is required by Verra, especially when it may extend to the next generation. While this is a valid concern that families should discuss, it also presents a unique opportunity. By improving land health through proven management practices, producers can create an income stream that could benefit future generations. This is especially true if the next generation is involved in the regenerative journey of the family ranch.
Entering a carbon contract isn’t for everyone, but if it’s an opportunity you’d like to explore with no obligation or pressure, please reach out to Tara Povalish at tara.povalish@native.eco or a WSE team member at info@westernsustainabilityexchange.org.
You can also learn more about the grazing program at Native’s Northern Great Plains Regenerative Grazing Program.
*************************************
WSE works with ranchers throughout the project region to help them better understand the carbon markets, develop grazing plans to promote carbon sequestration, and provides a database to track management change (Land Health Dashboard). To learn more about our work with Native or the Land Health Dashboard visit these links.
