Method for estimating carbon sequestration in grasslands

A system for determining a change in sequestered carbon in a predetermined area of a grassland, comprising:

• means for calculating a maximum aboveground net primary productivity based on an annual rainfall amount;
• means for determining a leaf area index based on a proportion of leaves and a grazing intensity;
• means for calculating an estimated aboveground net primary productivity based on said leaf area index and said maximum aboveground net primary productivity
• means for calculating an estimated belowground net primary production;
• means for determining a plant derived soil organic carbon from a fire frequency, a measurement of the lignin and cellulose content of the aboveground plant tissue, and said estimated aboveground net primary productivity;
• means for calculating an amount of dung derived soil organic carbon based on said measurement of the lignin and cellulose content of the aboveground plant tissue, said grazing intensity, and said aboveground net primary productivity;
• means for calculating a carbon loss associated with maintenance respiration;
• and
• means for determining a change in sequestered carbon by adding said plant derived soil organic carbon to said dung derived soil organic carbon and subtracting said carbon loss associated with maintenance respiration.

A method of certifying the appropriate number of carbon credits associated with a carbon offset project, comprising the steps of:

• defining an area of grassland to be used as a carbon credit offset;
• establishing a baseline measurement of the soil organic carbon;
• measuring the change in sequestered carbon over time;
• and
• obtaining a number of carbon credit corresponding to the change in sequestered carbon over time.