Carbon Sequestration

Plants and soils naturally store carbon through sequestration, helping reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. To support the County’s carbon neutrality goals, the Parks and Sustainability Departments conducted a countywide assessment of carbon stored in County-managed lands, identifying opportunities to protect existing carbon stocks and expand sequestration through climate-smart land management. Strategies such as urban forestry, prescribed grazing, native grassland restoration, and fuel reduction not only remove carbon but also provide co-benefits like biodiversity protection and reduced wildfire risk. Pilot projects identified through this effort will be prioritized for implementation, testing, and evaluation to determine their effectiveness and scalability.

The amount of carbon sequestration needed will depend on the County’s progress in reducing emissions. If all planned reduction strategies are achieved, an estimated 14% of remaining emissions will need to be offset to reach carbon neutrality. If progress falls short, a greater reliance on sequestration will be required.