Date of Award

2016

Publisher

North Dakota State University

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Awarded

Master of Science (MS)

Program

Natural Resources Management

Department

Natural Resources Management

College

Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources

Faculty Advisor

Norland, Jack

Description

It is understood civilization may be entering the Anthropocene Epoch, characterized by human influences on Earth’s geology and environment. A growing body of literature highlights the ecological concerns affiliated with anthropocentric influences on the environment. This study indicates climate change and global CO2 emissions as an area of concern, and proposes the Carbon Negative System as a potential solution of many. The Carbon Negative System is comprised of three steps: land use and prairie vegetation, biochar process, and the system benefits. To illustrate these steps and to test the system’s viability, a case-study analysis was applied to the community of Fargo, North Dakota. The system is described and its benefits were indicated. A carbon budget and economic analysis were determined, and the system was applied to a resilience framework to synthesize the findings. Keywords: community development, biochar, prairie vegetation, ecosystem services, resilience, Anthropocene, climate change, carbon emissions

Rights

NDSU policy 190.6.2

Rights Link

https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf

Handle Identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28034

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