AgraGate, Alabama Treasure Forest To Partner On Carbon Credits Program for Land Owners

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AgraGate Climate Credits Corporation today announced that the Alabama Treasure Forest Association (ATFA) has signed on as a forestry carbon credits contract facilitator in Alabama.

A charter member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), AgraGate is the leading aggregator of carbon credits from agriculture. The Mobile-based ATFA, founded in 1991, is the premier association for private forest owners in Alabama.

“The 3,000 Alabama Treasure Forest Association members are stewardship-minded families dedicated to improving the forest lands of their state and our nation,” noted Dave Krog, CEO for AgraGate. “The emergence of the market for carbon credits enables forest owners to receive an additional financial incentive for their conservation practices. We’re very pleased to partner with an organization that has significant experience in the forestry business so they can explain both the opportunities and the risks involved in the program.”

ATFA To Educate, Coordinate Carbon Credit Registration

The ATFA will work with forest owners in the state to educate them on the carbon market and help determine whether their property and practices will qualify for carbon credits, according to James Malone, executive director of the association.

“Our role will be to encourage and enable our members, and other private forest owners in Alabama, to register and certify their lands in the carbon credits program,” Malone said. “Alabama ranks second in the nation with its 23 million acres of forested land, so this is a tremendous opportunity for forest owners to increase revenue by the sale of carbon credits.”

The CCX launched trading in December 2003. Member companies have voluntarily committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Though they must reduce actual emissions, they also can purchase carbon credits to offset a portion of their carbon dioxide reduction commitment. Research shows that trees are very good at converting atmospheric carbon dioxide to a sequestered, stable form of carbon within the tree.

The ATFA’s Malone said private forest owners interested in learning more about the carbon market should contact the organization by email at atfa@atfa.net, or by calling the association at its toll-free telephone number: 1-888-240-4694.

AgraGate, a subsidiary of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, is the leading aggregator of carbon credits from agriculture. On behalf of farmers, ranchers and private forest owners, the company has marketed more than 3 million carbon credits from enrollments in 26 states on the CCX. For more information, call AgraGate at 866-633-6758, or visit www.agragate.com.

Media Contact:
Ken Benkstein, 503-806-2220
The Meyocks Group
kenbenkstein@meyocks.com