ustxtxb_obs_2007_11_30_50_00019-00000_000.pdf

would like DISSENT SUPPORT Visit our website www.texasob 939-16620 for a complete list of Texas public libraries to order a subscription. The Desert Remains Charles C. Poling “Charles Poling has written a beautiful double love story: One about his love for northern New Mexico; the other about love between a man and a woman. The latter is both poignant and tragic?” –Tony Hillerman University of New Mexico Press UNMPRESS.COM 800.249.7737 www.eco wise.co m Mon-Sat 10-7 Sun 12-5 Green 4St1;14;ng Na.turat noor:ne Cogin+er-topt Na+mral Sab y predmetr HW Water PRerr Green G;f. Keeping Austin. Green for 17 Years 110 West Elizabeth Austin, TX 78704 512.326-4474 ita;nwater ColleeGon energy tf4Vien+ Afpgarwes lacer Pa;nts & tkans Non-40,6e Clean nsi SuppNer Pert’ Con+rol and so much svore. YOUR EARTH-FRIENDLY EVERYTHING STORE We have bio-compostable cups, plates, and utensils for your next party! The H er b 13,; ir . “Best place to cure WI what ails you” . , . . www.theherbbar.com Explore our Oasis of Earthly Delights! extensive array of natural health and bodycare products comprehensive collection of herbs great gift ideas and much more! 200 West Mary 444-6251 Mon.-Fri. 10-6:30 Sot 10-5 If the U.S. were to sign that agreement, then things could change drastically. Once again, you want to be very careful about locking any price in for a long period of time. Or even a short period of time” Though the East Texas conference presented CCX as the only viable carbon market, landowners have other options. As a landowner, you should approach everything with a great deal of caution in terms of what you’re signing and the aggregator you’re working with:’ Baker said. “Other aggregators are going directly to the companies and perhaps not going through the CCX at all. There are other markets out there, and you need to look closely and scrutinize. I give the CCX a lot of credit for taking initiative and being the first national presence we’ve had in North America to really try to get something going, but are they still relevant in today’s market or will they be relevant in six months? I don’t know. The emission market is really a perfect segue between politics and science, and it’s a very complex science “I don’t like all the paperwork and people telling me what to do.” Though small, initiatives like the CCX help generate public awareness that economics has a role in preserving the environment. “I think it’s really important to have financial incentives in these programs,” said Joel Brown, a rangeland ecologist. “This is really the beginning of the ecosystem services model, where we actually try to move what is a benefit of good land management, whether it’s clean water, clean air, or climate regulation. We try to move those things from individual landowners into a marketplace. It’s important at this stage for carbon sequestration, but in the long run it’s really important to learn how to market environmental or ecosystem services in a broader arena.” As the sun retreated beneath the East Texas pine woods, landowners headed for the parking lot. Most seemed to think the carbon offset market needs to mature a little before they start leasing out land. “It’s a good program for our environment,” said Leonard, the landowner from Winnsboro, “and nothing is more incentive than to have a return or possible return for your efforts. You do so much as just a good old boy, but then when they give you an opportunity to get some greens back, it makes it a little better.” Stayton Bonner is a writer based in Austin. NOVEMBER 30, 2007 THE TEXAS OBSERVER 19