The Marin Carbon Project (MCP) is a consortium of independent agricultural institutions in Marin County, including university researchers, county and federal agencies, nonprofits, and John Wick, owner of the Nicasio Native Grass Ranch. We seek to enhance carbon sequestration in rangeland, agricultural and forest soils through applied research, demonstration and implementation in Marin County.
MCP works within Marin County and is guided by a Steering Committee made up of the consortium’s members. Specific areas of focus for MCP are driven by task forces composed of relevant members; the Science Advisory Task Force and the Implementation Task Force. MCP does not have any staff. Research is carried out through UC Berkeley, UC Cooperative Extension, Colorado State University or other partnering Universities. Implementation is supported directly by the Marin Resource Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Marin Agricultural Land Trust assists land owners in carbon farm management and planning and financially supports implementation development. The Carbon Cycle Institute supports state wide policy and John Wick of Nicasio Native Grass Ranch innovates onsite practice and implementation.
For a list of frequently asked questions please read our FAQ.
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE:
Carbon Cycle Institute: Founded to take the work of MCP and carbon farming beyond Marin County , the Carbon Cycle Institute’s mission is to stop and reverse global climate change by advancing science-based solutions that reduce atmospheric carbon while promoting environmental stewardship, social equity and economic sustainability. For inquires regarding carbon farm planning and policy, please contact Torri Estrada at [email protected]
Marin RCD: The Marin Resource Conservation District (RCD) is a non-regulatory Special District of the State of California that secures public and private grant money to assist the agricultural community with soil and water conservation. Marin RCD provides carbon farm planning and implementation support to producers. Marin RCD is a member of the Steering Committee and Implementation Task Force. If you are a Marin land manager interested in creating a carbon farm plan for your property contact the Marin RCD, email [email protected] or call (415) 663-1170.
Marin Agricultural Land Trust: Created in 1980 by a coalition of ranchers and environmentalists, Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) works to preserve Marin County farmland permanently. MALT supports carbon farming practices on the properties it holds in trust and is a member of the MCP Steering Committee and the Implementation Task Force. Donations to MCP’s work are accepted and distributed by the Marin Agricultural Land Trust. For information on making a financial contribution please contact MALT at (415) 663-1158.
Marin County: Marin County served as an early member, and was a partner in establishing West Marin Compost in Nicasio. The County has integrated carbon farming into its Climate Action Plan. (past member)
Marin County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures: The mission of the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is to serve the public’s interest by ensuring equity in the marketplace, promoting and protecting agriculture, protecting environmental quality and the health and welfare of Marin County’s residents. Marin County’s first Agricultural Commissioner, Director of Weights and Measures was appointed by the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1916.
Marin Organic (past member)
Marin UC Cooperative Extension: University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) woks in partnership with the County of Marin and has served the local community since it was founded in 1913. As the name indicates, Cooperative Extension is affiliated with University of California. The Marin UC Cooperative Extension’s mission is to sustain vital agriculture, environment and community in Marin County by providing University of California research-based information in agriculture, natural resource management, nutrition and youth development. For questions regarding the Creek Carbon study or carbon benefits of riparian restoration please contact David Lewis at [email protected].
University of California at Berkeley, Silver Labs: Led by Dr. Whendee Silver, Silver labs studies the response of soil biogeochemistry to a changing climate, specifically focused on soil carbon and nutrient cycling and the interaction with climate across different soil types and land-use activities. Fieldwork is concentrated in in Mediterranean rangelands and grasslands in California, and in wet subtropical forests in Puerto Rico. Silver labs aim to improve our mechanistic understanding of these responses by addressing key unknowns such as the controls on greenhouse gas fluxes in forests and wetlands and the long-term effects of rangeland management practices on soil carbon. Please refer to MCP’s Science section for all papers produced with the project. For interviews please contact Dr. Silver at [email protected]
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),formerly known as the Soil Conservation Service, is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provides conservation based technical assistance and funding opportunities to farmers, ranchers and other private landowners and managers. Carbon farm planning advanced by MCP uses traditional NRCS conservation planning as its model. NRCS programs have provided significant support for Carbon Farm planning and implementation.
John Wick: John Wick and his wife, Peggy Rathmann, are the owners of Nicasio Native Grass Ranch. John co-founded both the Marin Carbon Project and the Carbon Cycle Institute, and has independently led statewide educational campaigns, supported new laws related to healthy soils and compost, and built functional economy-wide models for rebalancing the global carbon cycle. For inquires regarding MCP history and carbon 101 presentations please contact John Wick at [email protected].
