Tuskegee University has a new plan to help combat climate change

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Tuskegee University. (Pat Byington / The Bama Buzz)

Tuskegee University will be working in partnership with Pennsylvania State University on a project to mitigate climate change. The United States Department of Agriculture and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture has awarded the partnership a grant of $1.5 million to help fund the initiative. Read on to hear the buzz.

What is climate change?

Longleaf Forest, In Langan Park
Longleaf Forest in Langan Park. (Liv George / The Bama Buzz)

Most scientists agree that since the 1800s, there has been a spike in both temperature and erratic weather patterns across the globe. These shifts have largely been attributed to human activities such as CO2 emissions, deforestation and a variety of other factors that have come about as our technology has evolved over the past 200 years. It’s largely agreed that unless we start doing something about these shifts in climate and weather, then we could face many problems in the near future.

What is Tuskegee University’s new initiative?

Singular Emerald Coated Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Many animal species are in danger due to global warming. (Carole Sawada / The Bama Buzz)

The new initiatives—spearheaded by Tuskegee University and Pennsylvania State University—will consist of twenty minute online training modules designed to educate forest owners on forest carbon and climate change issues. The training course will consist of twenty modules that will teach forest owners about:

  • climate change policy and impacts
  • carbon market structures
  • forest management under climate change
  • contract design
  • tax implications.

Owners will also be encouraged to meet with peers and deliver the content they have learned. This will specifically be used to help educate minority landowners about climate change and environmentally safe forestry practices.

What does the initiative hope to accomplish?

Climate Change
Educating people about forestry. (Barton Perkins / The Bama Buzz)

The ultimate goal of this new initiative is to teach people about global warming in a way that is easily approachable and can be shared amongst forest owners across the country. The program will be applicable to many different bioregions of the United States and will both develop and expand upon resources that help guide structured forestry and government programs. With any luck, the initiative will prove vital in helping mitigate climate change in the coming years.

What do you think about the new initiative to help stop climate change? Let us know @Bamabuzz!

Barton Perkins
Barton Perkins
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