"Service-learning" is a form of experiential education in which students engage in activities that address human and community needs together with structured opportunities intentionally designed to promote student learning and development.  Reflection and reciprocity are key concepts of service-learning."

(Jacoby, B. (1996) Service-Learning and Higher Education)

My original idea for the service-learning aspect of this course was to find a partner in the Burlington area with a contaminated soil in need of an innovative plan.  For awhile, there was optimism but apparently folks are somewhat protective of their contaminated spots and reluctant to participate.  So, idea number two was actually stimulated by Focus the Nation and adding this course to the list of teach-ins.  Removal of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by soils is really a form of bioremediation on a large scale.  Why not see if we can help efforts in Vermont to understand, predict and enhance the C sequestration ability of soils?  These efforts appear to be divided between forest soils and agricultural soils.  We have a willing and interested partner who we can help with the problem in forest soils.  Sandy Wilmot of the Vermont Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation.  See her letter below.  There is also the possibility of working with Thom Villars of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) on some aspect of GRACEnet (Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network).  Finally, I am looking into working with Carbon Farmers of America, located right here in Vermont.

 
As part of this course, we will research and discuss the state of the science related to soil organic matter.  Our focus will be on understanding how soil organic matter is formed, how it changes over time and how it may be encouraged to increase.  We will also pursue the needs of our partners and help produce a current estimate of soil carbon storage in Vermont, an estimate of future trends, and some ideas for enhancing future sequestration.  More details will emerge as we start the process.

January 13, 2008

 Dear Dr. Donald Ross,

The State of Vermont, Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation is currently involved in developing plans to maintain and expand the capacity of forests to mitigate carbon emissions. As part of the Governor's Commission on Climate Change, a Forest Inventory was conducted to determine the current rate of carbon sequestration by forests. While we have good information on above-ground biomass, the inventory was lacking in scientific data to support forest soil carbon dynamics for Vermont. Without solid information of soil carbon inventory, it will be difficult to measure changes in the future, and develop appropriate forest management strategies that actually benefit our carbon reduction goals. Other states have found that soil carbon accounting was essential to implement appropriate, cost effective forest policies.

The US Forest Service Global Climate Change Program has developed a regional model for forest soils of New England. Using the model criteria as a foundation and applying it to current soil maps of Vermont, a more Vermont-specific estimate of soil carbon is possible. Furthermore, changes in forest vegetation can be used to predict impacts of these changes on soil carbon in the future. These science-based soil carbon accounting products would greatly assist the State in planning for bioremediation for climate change.

I look forward to working with you and your students in the Soil and Water Pollution Bioremediation class to develop these needed carbon pollution mitigation products.

Sandy Wilmot

Forest Health Specialist/Climate Change Specialist

Vt. Dept. Forests, Parks & Recreation

29 Sunset Drive

Morrisville, VT 05661-8331

(802)888-5733

sandy.wilmot@state.vt.us