Tribal lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Mississippi / ? Stephen Taglieri, National Indian Carbon ASLA will partner with the to offset greenhouse gas emissions from its in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 10-13. This is the .
While it pursues its goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040, ASLA has committed to purchasing up to 3,750 metric tons of positive climate contributions from NICC this year (equivalent to 3,750 carbon credits). This partnership will also advance the cultural empowerment and climate equity goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan, which was released in 2022, and ASLA’s Call to Action: Co-creating a Future that Heals Land and Culture, which was released at the ASLA 2024 Conference.
The carbon offsets NICC will provide have been generated in the Tribal Forests of the in Mississippi. The band’s forest carbon project is a natural climate solution that generates carbon credits through Improved Forest Management.
“Landscape architects support the climate goals of Indigenous communities – and, this year, the self-determination of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in achieving their ambitious forest carbon goals. We applaud the band’s efforts to protect their native forests, enhance resilience and biodiversity, and educate the next generation,” said ASLA President Kona Gray, FASLA, PLA.
"By conserving these woodlands and enhancing forest stewardship, we honor the enduring connection the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians holds with this land. Reinvesting carbon revenues into a modernized K–12 education system ensures that this connection not only endures but thrives, empowering future generations to carry it forward,” said Bryan Van Stippen, Program Director, NICC.
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The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will use the income generated from carbon offset sales, which would otherwise come from harvesting trees, to:
- Build a new 35-acre K-12 school campus ?
- Steward a native, growing forest
- Enhance biodiversity and protect habitat
- Support long-term carbon storage
- Create measurable climate benefits
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has a Climate Action Plan that guides its investment in forest and wetland management, solar energy, electric school buses, biofuels, building energy efficiency, and sustainable waste management. The Tribe has created climate benefits by enrolling more than 25,000 acres into a forest carbon project in 2020. The project will protect 12 million trees from harvesting for 40 years.
The lands of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians span 35,000 acres and include more than 26,000 acres of forest. The forest carbon project will protect lowland cypress swamps and diverse ecosystems that support the growth of gum, hickory, oak, pine, and other tree species. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians’ land is home to a range of water birds, including herons and egrets; white-tailed deer; and alligators. Some trees are harvested to create culturally significant objects, such as drums, stickball sticks, and blowguns.
Funds from the forest carbon project will go to constructing a new 35-acre educational campus. The campus will include new middle and high school buildings, a gymnasium, a basketball arena, a Career and Technical facility, and a renovated football and track field.
"Land stewardship has always been important to our Tribe, and the emerging [carbon] market gives us an invaluable opportunity to continue to protect and preserve our forested tribal lands and address our children’s educational needs,” said Cyrus Ben, Chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
The lead sponsor of ASLA 2025 conference carbon offsets is .
In 2024, on carbon offsets. ASLA’s members and sponsors contributed more than $53,000 to purchase more than 3,500 credits, a 23 percent increase over 2023.