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Forests

Forests of the Eastern US are important carbon sinks, and it is essential to understand how management affects this carbon sink. Forests in the central Appalachian region of southeastern Ohio are also some of the most biodiverse temperate forests of the world!

Agriculture

Commercial agriculture in the Midwest US is frequently a net carbon source and a source of excess nutrients that contribute to hypoxia in water bodies. Careful management can reduce these impacts, and even reverse them in some cases.

 
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Energy

The majority of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are from the energy industry. Renewable energies, including bioenergy and solar, offer alternatives that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon if managed well.

Land Management

Land use changes and land management can have a large impact on global processes, including climate change. It is essential to incorporate management strategies that sequester carbon and promote biodiversity. Human health can be enhanced by using ecological principles to manage food, energy, and waste systems that all use land in different ways.