Friesland will pay for CO2 storage in grass soils

The province of Friesland is supporting a pilot (initiated by the Frisian Environmental Federation) to compensate farmers on peat soils, which raise their water level and thereby reduce CO2 emissions.

Other Western European countries are already experimenting with compensating for CO2 storage in the soil by issuing 'compensation certificates'. In our country, the province of Friesland is now making €150.000 available for a pilot project called 'Valuta voor Veen'.

Raise water level
The aim is to raise the water level at 1 or more farmers in the Frisian peat meadow area next year. This reduces the oxidation and thus the loss of carbon that is stored in the peat soils and released as a result of the subsidence. Since it concerns peat soils, it is not about increasing the organic matter content, but about retaining CO2 that would otherwise volatilize.

"Research has shown that with a level increase of 40 centimetres, from -60 to -20, an average of 20 tons of CO2 per hectare per year is retained. Radboud University has developed models for this specific area," says Arnoud de Vries of the Frisian Environmental Federation: "Our idea is that farmers receive a compensation of €35 per tonne, which is equivalent to €700 per hectare."

Purchase of certificates
The costs for this are incurred by companies that want to (partly) compensate their CO2 tax by purchasing certificates issued from the savings realized on the peat soils. "Many companies are interested in this," says De Vries. "Think of energy companies, governments, financial institutions, but also festival organizers who want to hold a CO2-neutral event and compensate their tax by purchasing certificates."

The fee of €35 is clearly higher than with other initiatives where CO2 certificates are already paid. "We think this amount is necessary to make it and keep it attractive for farmers," explains De Vries. "A water level of -20 equals agricultural nature management and requires different management of the plots. Companies that want to buy the certificates must feel a connection with the area and the preservation of biodiversity there."

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