From The Clear Water Carbon Fund:

We are excited and proud to announce the recent launch of our Clear Water Carbon Fund, a ground-breaking approach to provide local carbon offsets while protecting clean water and wildlife habitat.

Carbon offset programs exist to help businesses or individuals take responsibility for the unavoidable carbon they emit into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions from human activities are the main cause of climate change. The Clear Water Carbon Fund plants trees in unforested areas near rivers and streams. As these trees grow, they absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere.

Historically, carbon offset programs often plant trees in other countries and do not provide a direct connection or benefit to the purchaser. Manomet staff have developed an exciting new model that will provide demonstrable, community-based benefits.

The Clear Water Carbon Fund will plant trees that will:

• Remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere;
• Protect clean water supplies;
• Provide valuable habitat for wildlife; and
• Support local economies;

Each tree planted through the Clear Water Carbon Fund will remove at least 0.14 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere throughout its life. A round-trip flight between Portland, Maine and Chicago adds 0.4 metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere requiring three trees to be planted to remove these emissions.

The Clear Water Carbon Fund is initially planting trees in Maine’s Sebago Lake watershed and in Vermont’s White River watershed. Manomet staff are working with local land trusts to identify willing landowners and oversee on-the-ground monitoring.

To learn more about this innovative project, please visit the Clear Water Carbon Fund’s website. On the site, you can learn more about the science behind the program and purchase some trees yourself.

 

Protection of the Watershed 
 
The watershed is the drainage basin which includes the streams and rivers that convey water downhill into a larger body of water, as well as the land surfaces from which water drains.  Our watershed includes the towns of Norwell, Hingham, Scituate, Marshfield, Hanover, Pembroke, Whitman, Hanson, Duxbury, Weymouth, Rockland and Abington.  The North and South River Water Association (NSRWA...  www.nsrwa.org ) was established 40 years ago to promote the well-being of our waterways.  Today it is the major voice for our rivers protecting, restoring and educating people to be their stewards by, among other things, promoting organic lawn care to reduce the introduction of toxic chemicals through land surfaces.  To volunteer, contact Debbie Cook of the NSRWA at debbiecook281@gmail.com