“This is an exceptional program for the benefit of our members and the environment,” said Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben.

On Tuesday, the Mississippi Choctaw Indian Band announced they are joining the Tribal Lands Conservation Initiative. The tribe will work with the National Indian Carbon Coalition (NICC) nonprofit to protect approximately 25,000 acres of land in Mississippi while generating substantial income for its members through the creation of carbon credits.

“This is an exceptional program for the benefit of our members and the environment”, said tribal leader Cyrus Ben. “Land stewardship has always been important to our tribe, and this emerging market provides us with an invaluable opportunity to continue to protect and preserve our forested tribal lands. “

The Tribal Land Conservation Initiative is a national program that enables Native American tribes to implement sustainable management practices to preserve their lands, protect the environment, and create economic opportunities for their people.

Many tribal nations may benefit from participating in markets for other carbonate environmental products because of the large amounts of land they control for agriculture, ranching or forestry. The advantages include:

• Additional income generation opportunities from the land
• Preservation of tribal land ownership
• Promotion of land stewardship
• Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
• Promotion of soil health, ecological diversity, and water and air quality

Formed by the Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) and the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC), the NICC helps helps tribes to implement sustainable management practices and develop carbon projects. They also help tribes to partner with socially responsible organizations for financial benefits.

The mission of the NICC is “To preserve tribal land ownership and reduce the effects of climate change by conserving the natural resources of tribal lands to minimize human-made greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We have worked closely with the Mississippi Choctaws to help them achieve their goals. Carbon projects offer tribes a unique opportunity to protect their land, preserve it for future generations and earn long-term income ”, NOTsaid ICC program director Bryan Van Stippen.