Mother Nature is one of our most powerful allies in helping reduce and store our carbon footprint.
Our coastal wetlands play an important role in that process, but are threatened by erosion and sea level rise.
Environmental lawyers in Houston say they’ve found a way to protect these sensitive areas of the state while also making it financially profitable for big companies to help in this effort.
“This is where the economy is heading, and for coastal landowners, it’s the new economy for Texas agriculture,” said attorney Jim Blackburn. “It’s part of the new economy of carbon and the protection of the Texas coast.”
Blackburn’s goal is to create 1,000 miles of living coastline stretching from Orange County to Cameron County. He believes energy industry leaders can support this effort in exchange for carbon credits.
“By purchasing a mile, two mile, 10 mile of this living coastline, we want to provide an opportunity for companies to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Blackburn.
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The purpose of this project is to protect the Texas coast from erosion and sea level rise that are eroding critical wetlands.
“Bogs are key to the Texas coastal fishery. Shrimp, blue crabs, and flounder all use marshes as nurseries,” says Blackburn. “Every acre of wetland has about 400 tons of carbon stored in the soil.”
Blackburn said that if the wetlands were destroyed, all the carbon in the soil would be released into the atmosphere.
“We’re going to build an oyster reef to protect the wetlands and not release carbon dioxide in the process,” said Blackburn.
Blackburn said Valero Energy Corporation is funding the research needed to create a system where companies can purchase carbon credits to help fund the construction of this living coastline. rice field. Blackburn founded a non-profit company called B-Carbon, which issues credits.
“They basically put stuff like that in their annual report on how they’re reducing their carbon footprint,” Blackburn said.
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For living shorelines, the idea is to deposit rocks and bricks near the shoreline and then seed the reef with oyster spat. Oyster reefs then grow to anchor the structures to the sea floor, preventing shoreline erosion by wind, waves and sea level rise.
Lalise Mason of Scenic Galveston, Inc. and Texas Coastal Exchange said:
Mason is spearheading a similar project to protect Virginia Point, which borders the Galveston Causeway.
“Its first and primary function was to protect this coastal Prairie Peninsula,” Mason said.
Mason, along with an army of volunteers, helped build stony reefs to protect the coastline from erosion. After that, marsh grass was planted. This fixes the sediment and prevents the carbon accumulated in the soil from being released.
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“It develops biomass underground, and it develops a huge root mass,” Mason said. “The biomass in the soil is carbon. That’s soil carbon.
The entire area thrives on fish, birds, and rapidly thickening wetland grasses.
Chris Levitz, AECOM’s Gulf Coast Manager, said:
Levitz helped design the coastal system that now protects Virginia Point. He and Mason are working with Blackburn on the design of various prototypes that will comprise 1,000 miles of living coastline.
“Do[Virginia Point]but do it on a smaller scale that is more reproducible,” says Levitz.
Blackburn said the plan would serve as a model for a new type of economy and industry to help protect or restore natural carbon filtration areas in exchange for carbon credits that demonstrate a commitment to reducing carbon emissions. I hope
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“All of this is being done outside of government regulation,” said Blackburn. “Historically, we have seen the market and the environment come into conflict. Today we are going to see them working together and moving together.”
Blackburn said the design phase of the project should be completed by the end of this year, with construction beginning on part of the coastline next year, with the goal of completing the entire project in five to six years. I was.
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