There is enough land and water to plant millions of acres of forests and mitigate climate change

100 million acres of sparsely vegetated rangeland in the semi-arid Midwest generates very little income. For instance, annual rent for rangeland can be as low as $15.00 per acre. Selling carbon credits created through afforestation can stimulate the economy of the entire region.

150 million acre-feet of water flows annually through major rivers in the Midwest directly into the ocean contributing 20% to annual sea-level rise. Redirecting this water through existing waterways for irrigation will slow annual sea-level rise and support growing billions of trees.

Trees sequester carbon dioxide at different rates. Four types - American Sweetgum, Sycamore, Silver Maple and Yellow Poplar can each annually sequester more than 40 tons of CO2 per acre. Hybrid willow and poplar trees can also sequester tons per acre CO2.

Leaves are the hidden resource for massive carbon capture. The leaves in a mature American Sycamore tree annually capture 125 kilograms carbon (450 kg CO2equivalent). Existing giant leaf vacuums can harvest 100 tons of leaves per afforested acre for underground sequestration.

SIlvopasture integrates growing trees with raising livestock. Selling Credits from Carbon sequestration will supplement rancher income from livestock and promote widespread use of “green” alternatives such as mixing seaweed into feed to reduce release of methane by cattle.