Meeting Notes (May 22, 2009)
Purpose of Meeting: Biological Carbon Sequestration (BCS) Subgroup
Date/Time: May 22, 2009, 4pm
Chair: Eric Sundquist, Pete Jerome
Task Force Chair: Deputy Secretary Designee David Hayes, Counselor to the Secretary Steve Black
Acting Chair: Kit Batten
Objectives from May 22 agenda:
Objective 1: Summarize existing tools and knowledge regarding biological carbon sequestration
Objective 1a: Summarize state-of-the-art scientific tools currently under development to
measure, predict, maintain, and enhance ecosystem carbon sequestration.
Objective 1b: Assess biological carbon sequestration in ecosystem types across the United
States – What do we currently know about the ability of different ecosystem types to
sequester carbon (forests, tundra, grasslands, wetlands, etc) and what tools exist to measure,
predict, and verify this sequestration?
Objective 1c: Put together an assessment (to the best of our ability) of how much carbon
public lands currently sequester, how much of this carbon is vulnerable to climate change and
other factors, and how much additional carbon could our public lands sequester if we heavily
invested in restoration and adaptation efforts. How would our management activities as DOI
affect these numbers?
Objective 2: Develop a state-of-existing knowledge toolkit that can be used in the short-term. Nearterm target audience for this toolkit would be FWS, NPS, BLM, and BIA, USFS, and private
landowners to maintain and enhance c-sequestration and other ecosystem services through their
restoration, management, and stewardship/support activities.
Goal 2a: This toolkit should include information about how to select appropriate plant
species and management practices, how to maintain or restore hydrology and other ecosystem
services when necessary, and the associated carbon benefits of doing so – This should include
examples of specific carbon sequestration projects/specific ecosystem types to help put this in
context.
Objective 3: Define a class of “Public Lands Offsets” that would sequester carbon but also enhance
other ecosystem services. Suggest a series of options that could link up public lands offsets with a
cap-and-trade or other greenhouse gas regulatory regime and carbon market.
Objective 3a: Define a series of green jobs that are linked with biological carbon
sequestration. Make links about how recovery act and regular budget funds are being
dedicated to restoration projects are also serving to create jobs and sequester carbon.
Objective 4: Develop an outreach and education strategy for:
 The Public (education about the importance of the services that healthy, functioning
ecosystems can provide, including biological carbon sequestration). impacts of climate
change on our nation’s treasured landscapes, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration and
fish and wildlife and about how DOI is spearheading this effort
 The Tribes (education about how the Tribes can engage in biological carbon sequestration
efforts, including economic development and green job access)
 Other Federal and State Agencies (about the biological carbon sequestration assessment
methodology DOI is developing and how these evaluations can be of use outside DOI/how
DOI can work to access and complement other federal and state carbon measurement
methodologies).
1
In attendance:
Agency
First
Name
Last
Name
FWS
FWS
FWS
MMS
MMS
BIA
BIA
BIA
NPS
NPS
USGS
Pete
Kurt
Casey
Brad
Melisa
Brian
John
Dr. Gary
David
Chris
Eric
USGS
BLM
BLM
PMB
PMB
PMB
BIA
Bea
Mike
Bill
Jonathan
Christian
Ben
John
Jerome
Johnson
Stemler
Blythe
Batum
Kummet
DeGroot
Morishima
Graber
Shaver
Sundquist
Van
Horne
Pellant
Ypsilantis
Steele
Crowley
Simon
Vitello
Email
Phone
pete_jerome@fws.gov
Kurt_Johnson@fws.gov
casey_stemler@fws.gov
brad.blythe@mms.gov
melissa.batum@mms.gov
briank@nezperce.org
jdegroot@nezperce.org
morikog@aol.com
david_graber@nps.gov
chris_shaver@nps.gov
esundqui@usgs.gov
404 679 7157
303 236 4412
208 621 4619
208 843 7328
206 963 5651
bvanhorne@usgs.gov
mike_pellant@blm.gov
208 373 3805
bill_ypsilantis@blm.gov 202 452 0339
jonathan_steele@ios.doi.gov
Christian.crowley@ios.doi.gov
benjamin_simon@ios.doi.gov
John.vitello@bia.gov
Objective
2(mostly)
& 3 (lead)
2&4
4
4
3&4
3
4
1
1 (lead)
4 (lead)
2
1(mostly)
3
3 (lead)
4 (lead)
Discussion Summary
Topic: Objective Assignments
 Objective groups will outline elements of each objective and resubmit to the group at large.
(Please see table above for objective assignments)
Topic: Online Portal
 Neal Cooper, Sunny Bhagowalia, and Tim Quinn have taken on the responsibility of creating
a portal where the Task Force information (subgroup info and general info that is applicable
across agencies) will available for viewing and editing.
Topic: Composition of Draft Products for June 17-18 meeting
 Should include compilation of existing knowledge about Biological Carbon Sequestration-an
assessment of how much carbon is currently sequestered on public lands and the potential for
additional carbon sequestration.

Toolkit:
o The group needs to outline what will be featured in the toolkit e.g. what we do know
about data collection methods for BCS, what we don’t know, a path for producing
future products (including budget and timeline).
o The group also needs to synthesize existing info with respect to methodology, how
different ecosystems sequester carbon, how much they could sequester with different
management techniques, etc.
o The group needs to decide which agencies to consult in the creation of the toolkit and
also include an outline for how we should/shall tackle outreach and education
2
Topic: Life Cycle Analysis
 Between now and June 17-18, this group will focus on sequestration of carbon through
restoration and conservation management practices.
 In the future this group could also consider an explanation of the many different types of
sequestration and also opportunities for conversion e.g. building materials, biochar etc.
Topic: Economic Concerns
 The group will also need to highlight economic concerns interlaced between all of the
objectives but economic analysis will not be the focus of this group between now and June
17-18.
 Green jobs created by stimulus funds or budget process as a result of BCS should be included
Topic: Data
 The group should have a common format for data collection. Perhaps a spreadsheet that can
list data/information that is already know or that is unknown.
Topic: BCS/restoration/adaptation nexus
 The group should identify habitats that are important for purposes of restoration, adaptation to
climate change, and need additional attention regarding stopping the loss of carbon
 Groups should provide a narrative about what they know about the carbon sequestration
properties for different ecosystem types-where appropriate.
 Group should also determine general/best management practices associated with each of these
ecosystem types, both for BCS and for the enhancement of other important ecosystem
services.
3