LEAST-COST FOREST CARBON RESERVES - COST-EFFECTIVE SUBSIDIES TO CONVERT MARGINAL AGRICULTURAL LAND TO FORESTS

Supply schedules for forests planted on marginal agricultural lands are used to simulate a national carbon sequestration program. A cost-effective program should focus on establishing softwood forests on pastureland, and select lands by minimizing cost per ton sequestered. A program similar to the Conservation Reserve Program would sequester 48.6 million tons of carbon per year (3.5 percent of U.S. emissions) on 22.2 million acres. Costs would include $3,700 million in land rental costs and forest establishment costs. Minimizing cost per acre would increase enrollment to 23.1 million acres and would sequester 45.0 million tons per year.