AUTHORS: Alex French, Institute for a Sustainable Environment Clarkson University; Carol Cady*, GIS Program, St. Lawrence Univeristy; Dakota Casserly, GIS Program, St. Lawrence Univeristy; Jessica Rogers, Environmental Studies Department, SUNY Potsdam
ABSTRACT: Through a collaborative effort between Clarkson University’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment, St. Lawrence Land Trust, St. Lawrence University’s GIS Program, and SUNY Potsdam’s Environmental Studies Department, forested private properties within St. Lawrence County, New York have been identified as potential sites to participate in an experimental carbon offset project through Clarkson University. These properties would be placed under conservation easements with Clarkson University paying the easement transaction costs in exchange for the University being able to claim the carbon offset benefits.
The project started with an assignment in a GIS class at Clarkson, and continued in SUNY Potsdam’s introductory GIS class. The outcome was to identify large forested properties within the County. Due to the time constraints of the classroom, it was decided that the project needed to be refined before presenting the final results to the Land Trust. Data acquisition and analysis were split among the above academic programs. Four faculty and staff with several classes from these institutions created a suitability model. Over 100 properties were identified as suitable for easements. The owners of the 20 largest properties were then contacted by letter to discuss a conservation easement on their property. As of this summer SLLT has begun the easement process with one interested land owner.
During our presentation we will discuss the suitability model and analyses used, the collaborative process itself, and how this process may be used with other land trusts and academic institutions in our area to create a sustainable carbon for conservation model.
