Measuring and Monitoring Carbon in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors

Ross W. Gorte 
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy 

Renée Johnson 
Specialist in Agricultural Policy

Proposals to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases often include the use of forestry and agricultural practices and lands for carbon sequestration. However, uncertainty about the accuracy of measuring carbon from these activities has led some to question this potential. Basic approaches for measuring forest and agricultural carbon include on-site measurement; indirect measurement from off-site tools; and estimation using models or inferences. Because of challenges associated with balancing the cost and accuracy of these measurement tools, any practicable system for measuring forest and agricultural carbon might require a mix of these approaches.


Date of Report: January 26, 2010
Number of Pages: 21
Order Number: RS22964
Price: $29.95

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