It is a common sight across this country, bulldozers felling trees making way for new subdivisions and shopping malls, often the property becoming available because it was the only financially viable option for the original landowner.
In Georgia, however, Valley Wood hopes to change all that by giving landowners the option of forest sequestration.
Richard Ramey, owner of Valley Wood, manages "tree plantations" or carbon offset farms, which allow the land to generate income and hopefully prevent them from being sold for development.
The Georgia carbon offset farm was recently profiled on "Attainable Sustainables" a program airing on MXTV and created by MXenergy, a leading independent energy provider and a carbon neutral company itself.
"At MXenergy we feel very strongly about our obligation to maintain carbon neutrality," says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director and MXTV host.
"When you walk through this forest you instantly see the value of these trees and the numerous benefits they bring to the environment. By allowing our customers to purchase carbon offsets and our involvement in this forest it presents a tangible way for people to grasp the impact each on of them can have on our environment."
The trees purchased through the CCX-registered afforestation program naturally sequester carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. This project was developed with the sole purpose of creating a permanent solution for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions.
The Georgia climate offers an excellent environment for such a project due to its abundant rainfall, warm temperatures and longer growing season.
John Ramey, son and co-owner of Valley Wood, says carbon neutrality is a reasonable goal for everyone.
"If you are willing to pay to have your carbon footprint measured, you can be carbon neutral." Ramey says.
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