ApexRMS attends the AGU 2024 meeting in Washington, D.C.
At the recent AGU 2024 Meeting in Washington, D.C., our president, Colin Daniel, showcased an innovative adaptation of the USGS’s Land Use and Carbon Simulator (LUCAS) to assess the carbon sequestration potential of wetland restoration projects across the conterminous United States.
Wetlands are among the most effective carbon sinks, but their sequestration potential depends on factors such as wetland type, location, and historical land use. The enhanced LUCAS model, developed in SyncroSim, tackles these complexities by combining spatial land cover change projections with a carbon budget model. This approach provides detailed insights into how wetland restoration efforts influence carbon pools over time.
In collaboration with the USGS and other partners, the adapted LUCAS model was applied to two critical case studies:
- Forecasting carbon outcomes for upcoming restoration projects on National Park Service lands; and
- Quantifying the carbon benefits of the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Wetland Reserve Easements program in Kentucky and Tennessee.
This tool equips land managers with precise forecasts, enabling them to design restoration strategies that maximize carbon sequestration while also enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
The AGU 2024 conference was a resounding success, drawing tens of thousands of scientists to share groundbreaking research. A highlight for us was connecting with the Amazon Sustainability Data Initiative, sparking exciting conversations about potential future collaborations. Our presentation of the LUCAS model in SyncroSim resonated with the conference’s focus on tackling climate challenges through improved land management practices.
To delve deeper into our findings and methodology, you can view our AGU 2024 conference poster here.