by Theresa Kerchner, Executive Director
The current health crisis has been in many ways a wake-up call. Worldwide, we are not only addressing immediate public health needs, but many communities are also seizing previously unseen opportunities to advance sustainability programs that will help mitigate climate change. For example, Milan, Italy, and Oakland, California, have launched plans that aim to reduce fossil fuel use by adding new cycle lanes and pedestrian and cyclist priority streets. How inspiring!
KLT has been focused on climate change solutions for many years. Land conservation itself, is a natural solution. With your support, we have protected 6,600 acres of forestland, fields, and wetlands, and the soils and vegetation on these lands are constantly absorbing and storing carbon. We are now also incorporating climate resilience data when we consider new acquisitions.
In our most recent climate initiative, the KLT Finance Committee worked with Kennebec Savings Bank Investment and Trust Services to move our investments into a Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) portfolio that is aligned with our mission. SRI considers environmental, social, and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact.
As managers of forestland, we use and promote forest management practices that maximize carbon sequestration, including: protecting soil carbon, where about 50% of the carbon inventory is typically stored on a forested acre; promoting native species and increasing plant diversity to improve forest resiliency and carbon storage; harvesting sustainably; and taking a long-term view by growing high-value and larger diameter trees. On the ground, our forestry days at the Curtis Homestead are teaching the next generations how it’s done!
In 2013, KLT founded Local Wood WORKS, which is focused on keeping forests as forests, while simultaneously supporting local wood economies. LWW promotes wood as a renewable resource that stores carbon during the entire time period of its use. In our own office, we recently hired a contractor to build an accessible ramp completely out of local wood products. We also model and practice office-based energy conservation by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and demonstrating energy conservation. We installed a wood pellet furnace and are planning a wood fiber insulation project to improve the thermal performance of our office building, in partnership with Maine-based insulation startup GO-Lab in Madison, Maine.
Together we are making a difference. Thank you for your continued support.