Foundation News First Round of Carbon Credits Issued to the Foundation for its Camp Lakota Woodland Project As part of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Chicago Region Carbon Program, the McHenry County Conservation Foundation recently received 8,266 carbon credits from its Camp Lakota Woodland project, a 70-acre carbon project in Hartland Township. A second issuance of carbon credits is scheduled for later this year, with a total of 11,622 credits available for purchase by regional businesses to reduce their carbon footprint while investing in the health and vitality of our local communities. In 2021, the Foundation purchased 120 acres of land formerly owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America as the Camp Lakota Boy Scout Camp for more than 50 years. Of those 120-acres, nearly 70 are mature oak and hickory woodland that contain signi昀椀cant stands of white, red and bur oaks, with some limited numbers of hills oak, swamp white oak and pine plantation. Through participation in the Chicago Region Carbon Program, the Foundation was able to enroll those 70 acres into a regionwide carbon crediting program which ensures the protection of those woodlands while also providing a revenue stream that will be used to further support the vision and mission of the Conservation District. A carbon credit represents one metric ton of stored carbon dioxide (CO2). Companies, cities or organizations that want to reduce their carbon footprint can purchase carbon credits to o昀昀set emissions that they are unable to reduce through other means. The Foundation's carbon credits are registered with City Forest Credits, a national nonpro昀椀t carbon registry. The International Carbon Reduction and O昀昀set Alliance, which certi昀椀es best practices for carbon o昀昀setting and is considered the premier endorsing body globally, has endorsed all of the carbon credits registered with City Forest Credits. Voluntary carbon markets like the one managed by City Forest Credits help If you represent an area business that is mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions by working with organizations interested in learning more about reducing your and agencies that will continue to fund natural climate solutions through the carbon footprint while also investing in local sale of their carbon credits. Additionally, they provide di昀케cult-to-decarbonize conservation, please contact: industries with the opportunity to o昀昀set emissions immediately, while they take Shawna Flavell, Executive Director steps to eliminate carbon emissions. O昀昀setting emissions using high quality, McHenry County Conservation Foundation veri昀椀ed carbon o昀昀set credits through voluntary carbon markets present a great 815.338.6223 | s昀氀[email protected] opportunity for businesses looking to do their part, o昀昀set their greenhouse gas emissions and provide valuable conservation bene昀椀ts. Prairie Trail Clean Up! All Ages Once a month, Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers meet for a morning stroll and to pick up litter along a one-mile stretch of the Prairie Trail. Dress for the weather. Bring gloves and hand sanitizer. Long trash pickers provided. Sign up at mchenryconservation.org/prairietrail or email [email protected]. Saturdays, 9 – 11 a.m. August 10, September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14 Meet at Mitchard Way Parking Lot, Algonquin 10 Landscapes | FALL 2024