Presentation on the OM Sanctuary's carbon footprint.

1. Our Carbon Footprint:
Knowing where we stand
Evan Novell
Sustainability Intern
University of South Florida

2. Outline
 What is Sustainability?
 What is Carbon Sequestration?
 Why are they important?
 Components of a carbon footprint
 Results from Cool Climate
 Limitations
 Moving forward!
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that
someone else will save it.
-Robert Swan

3. What is sustainability?
 “Meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”.
-Brundtland Commission
 Three important concepts
 Longevity
 Triple bottom line
 Environmental, societal, economic.
 Processual
 Sustainability is not a goal but an ongoing
process of iteration.

4. What is Carbon Sequestration?
 The process of removing excess carbon from the carbon cycle by
capturing it (either naturally or artificially) and storing it
indefinitely.
 At OM Sanctuary, the easement serves as the vessel for this storage.

5. Why are they important?
 Sustainability
 It facilitates several
important things…
Socioeconomic
equitability
Environmental
economic viability
Actionable
environmental
responsibility on
multiple levels.
 Carbon Sequestration
 Plays an important role in
reducing greenhouse gas
emissions.
Particularly from non-point
sources.
 CO2 is necessary for
photosynthesis
Forest and agricultural
productivity is directly related
to the amount of CO2
present in forests and soils.

6. What to consider
when calculating a
carbon footprint?
 Location
 Business sector
 Number of facilities and Sq. feet
 Number of employees
 Annual revenue
 Business related transportation
 Energy usage
 Waste and recycling
 Procurements

7. Results of the Cool
Climate Calculation
 388 tons of CO2e from Oct 2015- Sept 2016
 Strengths
 Transportation
 Thanks to Asheville being a commuter friendly city.
 Locally focused organization
 This figure is also likely to be smaller based on staff
location.
 Weaknesses
 Procurements
 173% of similar businesses
 Does not account for organic or locally sourced

8. Limitations and
Obstacles
 Data is skewed because of
OMS’s previously dormant state.
 An example would be the
replacement of A/C
equipment.
 There are gaps in some of the
required data.
 Paper, stationary and
printing.
 In these instances, averages for
small-scale hotels were used.
 Some of these are not
representative of OMS.

9. But Evan, how does this apply to tourism?
 Asheville is a prime tourist destination.
 Wellness, outdoor sports and recreation, historical significance, and
beer!
 The OM sanctuary is situated adjacent to the French Broad River.
 This is the third oldest river in the world.
 Is considered a tourist destination.
 Our conservation easement contributes to the urban forest.
 As Asheville continues to develop, the longevity of the easement will
continue to provide benefits through natural services.

10. Moving Forward
 Carbon Offset project with:
 Dogwood Alliance
 Ecoforesters
 Ongoing environmental
stewardship.
 Prescribed burn
 Continue to engage the
community.
 Infographics
 Detailed record keeping
 Waste, procurements, etc.

11. Special thanks to

12. Questions?