Conservation Corner: March 4, 2002

Bush Announces Clean Air Proposal
by James L. Cummins

President George W. Bush is to be commended for his approach to offset carbon dioxide, the most prominent greenhouse gas that has been linked to global climate change. While the earth does benefit from a natural greenhouse effect caused by gases in the atmosphere that help keep the earth's temperature at a relatively constant level to support life, many scientists have shown that the addition of more greenhouse gases is undesirable.

President Bush's proposal on Global Climate Change has the potential of being the strongest clean air program, not only in our nation's history, but in the world. In addition to provisions that will provide clean air, this proposal has the potential to restore much wildlife habitat through carbon sequestration projects.

Carbon sequestration is the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by plants that retain a portion of the carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Carbon is cycled throughout the biosphere and exists as a prominent element in living things. One-half of the dry wood of a tree is composed of carbon.

To maintain a state of equilibrium, the amount of carbon found in water, land and other aspects of our atmosphere should be in balance. Carbon sequestration can be conducted by the reforestation of agricultural lands. Healthy growing hardwood forests are highly effective at naturally sequestering carbon and converting it to forest biomass.

Numerous energy companies are working with the Department of Energy to reduce carbon emissions through the use of more efficient technology, cleaner burning fuels and the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere through a voluntary program known as the "Climate Challenge" Program. The program has received a favorable response with more than 600 utilities participating. Some of the methods that have been utilized to reduce carbon dioxide emissions include the following: 1) Conversion to cleaner burning fuels and 2) Retrofitting electric generating plants with more effective equipment.

The restoration of mixed pine and hardwood forests, bottomland hardwood forests and wetlands to sequester carbon will be popular with farmers and landowners. Moreover, President Bush's proposal to manage carbon is cost-effective and is a superb tool to restore the natural environment, better air quality and provide habitat for countless species, all in a voluntary, market-based manner.

This clean air initiative represents a unique opportunity for the energy and environmental communities to work together to develop economically practical and scientifically based approaches to capturing carbon. President Bush is to be commended for his efforts to develop programs to improve our environment.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.