Vermont
Vermont
Aquatic Environments
Riparian Buffer Zone
Riparian buffer zones are vegetated areas adjacent to water sources that improve water quality and aquatic habitat health by filtering water, reducing pollution, and absorbing runoff. The White River Partnership (WRP) in Vermont planted 5,535 native trees and shrubs in 2022 under their Trees for Streams Program. A common design strategy for riparian buffers consists of three main zones: the zone closest to the waterbody, which should maintain water-tolerant tree and large shrub species, the second zone, which should plant faster-growing, smaller trees and shrubs, and the third zone, which will slow fast-moving water flow and filter sediment.
Planting native trees and shrubs in riparian buffer zones provides shade for species during warm temperatures, fosters resilience against invasive species, reduces excess nutrients and chemicals, and protects local flora and fauna. Restoring vegetation in wetland areas also provides habitat for essential pollinators, reduces erosion, and stabilizes stream banks and shorelines. Riparian buffer zones also help land mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts, providing increased resilience to flooding and erosion. Additionally, these zones may provide additional income for landowners, providing recreational opportunities, and reducing the risk of wildfires. However, states may struggle to create legislation surrounding riparian/wetland buffer zones, and may require additional research and maintenance. Overall, riparian buffer zones are effective nature-based solutions for improving water quality and local climate change resilience.
Sustainable Agriculture
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
When symphylans threatened to stunt the growth of their plants, Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont decided to provide indigenous fungi a habitat to help biologically manage pests. Beneficial fungi such as Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) play a multifunctional, symbiotic role in balancing soil ecology. They help maintain plant health, growth and production, increase plants’ uptake of nutrients, expand the absorptive area of host plant root systems, and assist with the translocation of energy from plants into the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi, which evolved over 460 million years ago, can alleviate the negative effects of host plant pathogens and toxic metals from the soil. As world populations increase and demand for food, sustainable farming practices are essential for secure food systems.
AMF can restore soil that has been degraded from modern agriculture, leading to improved food security and reduced climate impacts. By increasing the area for interactions with other beneficial soil microorganisms, these fungi service the farm by maintaining soil biodiversity and improving plant life health. This leads to greater potential for carbon sequestration and adaptation to climate change changesAMF can be an economical incorporation for farms, reducing the need for costly pest management programs and supporting plant nutrient intake and health. However, crop rotation may disturb the bioavailability of compatible organisms like AMF, making it difficult for them to thrive and achieve their symbiotic functions. Research by the Rodale Institute supports this claim, showing that inputs like cover cropping, crop rotation, and organic amendments can stimulate mycorrhizal diversity and activity.
In conjunction with sustainable agriculture practices, AMF can regenerate healthy soil and improve water irrigation systems. Mycorrhizae can help plants become drought-tolerant and a more productive carbon sink. Conventional farming techniques like tilling and chemical sprays may not support the population of these symbiotic fungi, but the effectiveness of this nature-based solution depends on other factors.
Urban Spaces
Community Gardens (BACG)
The Burlington Area Community Gardens (BACG) program is a non-profit organization that manages 14 garden locations in the Burlington region. Its goal is to provide individuals with land, resources, and knowledge to produce healthy food while promoting environmental sustainability. The program encourages sustainable agricultural methods, local farmed and organic foods, and land protection through community gardens. BACG manages garden sites, provides educational resources, organizes events, and facilitates volunteer opportunities.
Community gardens in Vermont promote soil health through composting and organic gardening methods, improving soil structure, water retention, and fertility. Healthy soils also increase plant growth, providing food and habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects. These gardens help mitigate climate change by reducing carbon footprints, promoting locally produced food, sequestering carbon in soil, and using sustainable gardening practices. They also help reduce food demand, capture stormwater, and prevent erosion, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ecological sustainability.
BACG offers several social and economic benefits, such as affordable fresh produce, reducing food insecurity, supporting local economies, promoting community cohesiveness, and offering exercise and stress relief. However, potential drawbacks include conflicts over land use, resource allocation among gardeners, soil contamination from urban pollutants, and limited accessibility for individuals with disabilities or transportation needs.
Sustainable Forestry
Burnt Mountain Forest Project
The Burnt Mountain Forest Project, designed by Bluesource and implemented by The Nature Conservancy, aims to create an 11,000-acre plot of un-fragmented forest in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. The project will create a "forever wild" easement, allowing healthy forests and regrowth, carbon storage, improved water quality, and pollution removal. The Nature Conservancy plans to turn the project into a carbon market program, generating $2 million in revenue over ten years. The project will help with biodiversity, restoring habitats for wildlife species, and carbon sequestration. The project is promoting sustainable solutions to climate change, such as Stio, which has implemented low-impact shipping and packaging solutions and incorporated renewable energy.
Carbon credits will be sold to companies that have not yet reduced their carbon footprint, allowing them to offset additional carbon emissions. The preservation of large forest areas can offset some of the carbon emissions produced by companies actively working towards reducing emissions.
Family Forest Carbon Program
The Family Forest Carbon Program is a sustainable forestry program developed by the American Forest Foundation and the Nature Conservancy in 2020. It is a carbon accounting methodology that compares carbon sequestration on enrolled properties to a baseline of unenrolled properties. Enrolled owners receive payments for performing management practices that increase carbon yield overtime. The program allows small landowners with as little as 30 acres of forests to participate, offering two management practices: Enhance your Woodland and Grow Older Forests. Funding is provided through philanthropic donations, grants, and contracts with corporations purchasing verified carbon credits. The program is implemented through the American Family Forest Foundation website, allowing landowners to search for their land and check eligibility.
The main benefit of increased sustainable forestry management is the ability for trees to sequester carbon. Increased marketing can increase small landowner involvement and help increase carbon sequestration. Healthy forests are crucial for improving habitat for at-risk species and preserving water filtration and storage. However, carbon credits are not a long-term solution to carbon production and may not appeal to some small landowners due to its stipulations. To be most effective, the program should be used in combination with other solutions, as it does not directly address carbon production.
