Dangerous levels of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere derive not only from burning fossil fuels, but also from land use changes like deforestation, industrial agriculture, and desertification. In fact, some scientists estimate that two-thirds of the excess carbon in the atmosphere derive from land-use changes by human activity. The good news is, with changes to farming, ranching and gardening practices, we can reverse the global trend of soil carbon losses and instead return atmospheric carbon back to the soil.

Building soil carbon can mitigate climate change while also increasing the security of our watersheds, ecosystems and food systems. At NOFA/Mass, we are teaching ourselves and others land management methods that increase the health of crops, farms, people and the planet.

How Can You Get Involved?

You don’t have to be a farmer to get involved in Soil Carbon Sequestration.

• Attend a NOFA/Mass Soil Carbon Workshop.
• Read our Soil Carbon Restoration: Can Biology Do the Job? white paper (available in 11 languages) or articles by NOFA and other publishers.
• Learn more by watching our Soil Carbon Video channel.
• Get tips on how to increase soil carbon, whether you’re a farmer, homeowner, landscaper, activist, consumer, policy-maker, or investor.
• Receive technical support through our Soil Carbon Proxy Testing Program.
• Share what you learn on social media, and with the farmers and gardeners in your community.
• Organize in your town to convert to organic municipal land management using carbon-friendly practices like choosing perennials over annuals, native plants over cultivars, and managing all lands organically.
• Support NOFA’s Healthy Soils policy work

Principles of Soil Carbon Sequestration:

• Minimize soil ecosystem disturbance by reducing or eliminating chemical inputs and tillage.
• Promote biodiversity above ground and below ground through inoculation, cover crop diversity, crop rotation, and the integration of perennials, annuals and livestock whenever possible.
• Keep living roots in the soil for as much of the year as possible.