Sell Carbon Credits From Your Land: List for Free

Carbon credits are measurable, verifiable emission reductions from projects the remove, reduce, or avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. One carbon credit is equal to one metric ton of carbon sequestered. Landowners can receive carbon credits relative to the amount of carbon stored on their land and therefore removed from the atmosphere. Entities that emit carbon into the atmosphere purchase carbon credits to offset these emissions. Although those entities are not currently required to purchase carbon credits by the U.S. government, many companies are making it a goal to completely offset their carbon emissions by the purchase of carbon credits.

Carbon storage is the process of capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. You may also see carbon storage referred to as carbon sequestration, carbon capture & storage, CO2 storage, or carbon offsets.

LandApp provides landowners with a free carbon credit estimate within our Carbon Credits Value Index Score. The Carbon Credits Value Index Score takes account how much carbon the different tree and soil types are sequestering along with the current market value for carbon credits to tell you how much you could earn by selling carbon credits from your land. Landowners can receive this free estimate within their free property report after finding their property on our map.

Land naturally captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through plant vegetation (photosynthesis) and geologic processes. Companies and entities that emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere are encouraged to offset their carbon dioxide emissions by purchasing carbon credits. Since your land is naturally capturing carbon dioxide, you could be earning carbon credits that these entities want to buy for carbon offsets.

Selling carbon credits from your land has many benefits: 1) Earn additional income off of your land

2) Retain surface use of your land and combine this with other income sources such as farming, running cattle, recreation, and solar or wind leases

3) Regenerative agriculture practices that improve the soil on your land can make your land even more productive

4) Positively impact the environment and contribute to green initiatives without making any significant changes to your land

For biological carbon capturing, the amount of vegetation growth (photosynthesis) that takes place on your property determines how much carbon dioxide it is removing from the atmosphere and how valuable your land is for carbon credits.. For example, different tree types and soil types sequester different amounts of carbon, which directly affects how much landowners can get paid for their carbon credits. Land that is in areas with dense, mature tree stands and locations with soils containing high percentages of organic carbon captures relatively high amounts of CO2.

Overall, the temperate rainforests in the Pacific Northwest are the best place for carbon storage in the US. However, both forested areas and farmland can capture relatively high amounts of carbon dioxide. Areas that are located in dry, arid regions with little to no vegetation capture relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide compared to other areas.

You can still use your land during carbon credit leases. However, these activities must adhere to specific terms in order to certify your carbon credits. Generally, landowners can still run cattle, farm, and participate in other recreational activities on their property during carbon leases. Subsurface carbon storage takes place underground, so it does not impede the use of the surface. Learn more about land use restrictions and implications during carbon leases.

Renewable energy projects, energy efficiency programs, afforestation, reforestation, agricultural soil carbon credits, and harvest deferrals are some examples of the different types of carbon projects. Carbon credits for forested land (specifically harvest deferrals) are the most valuable and most popular type of carbon credit project.

You would be paid for carbon credits on your land based on the amount of carbon dioxide that your parcel captures. Companies can make offers to purchase the carbon credits generated from your parcel for an allotted period of time, and you will be paid on a regular basis (usually annually) dependent on the individual contract that you sign with the developer.

In order to generate a carbon credit, a producer needs to provide evidence that one metric ton of CO2 (or its equivalent in greenhouse gases) has been sequestered in the soil as a result of the farmer's efforts. A carbon project is considered 'additional' when its emission reductions or removals would not have happened without the financial support from selling carbon credits. The additionality requirement for carbon credits is crucial to the environmental integrity of a carbon project.

Your carbon credits need to be verified in order to be attractive to buyers looking to purchase carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions. Carbon credit verification takes place in line with nationally recognized carbon standards, such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCR) or Climate Action Reserve (CAR), which are drawn up by independent third-party bodies. LandApp does not verify carbon credits. If you list your land for lease for carbon credits on LandApp for carbon credits and get an offer from a developer, the developer would verify the carbon credits.

The amount of land you need to sell carbon credits depends on your region and type of property. In general, 40+ acres of land are suitable for carbon credits, but larger properties are more attractive to carbon credit developers because they sequester more carbon.

LandApp earns revenues through our subscription-based toolkit from our parent company, LandGate, which is engineered for energy, data center, and carbon credit developers to plan and manage their projects.

To sell carbon credits from your land, you must work with a carbon credit developer who will help you implement and verify the carbon credits that your land is sequestering. To connect with carbon developers and start a carbon credit project, list your land for lease for free on LandApp. Our clients include carbon developers like NCX and LandYield, who use our platform to contact landowners with offers and measure how much carbon your land is sequestering.