• Getting Started: RCD technical assistance (TA) providers will work with you to identify climate-smart farming or ranching practices that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions or store carbon in your soil or on-farm vegetation. This is often done through a carbon farm plan tailored to your land.

• Tools and Methods: We use trusted tools and methods, such as COMET (a tool for estimating GHG impacts), local research data, and USDA guidelines to measure the potential benefits of different practices.

Recording Data: Once a practice is implemented, the TA provider will record project details and the estimated GHG impact in the RCD Project Tracker database. This ensures that your efforts are documented and contribute to larger climate action goals.

• Monitoring Plans: Monitoring activities will be based on the type of practice you've implemented. We'll work with you to establish what needs to be tracked, following USDA conservation practice standards.

• On-the-Ground Monitoring: Monitoring may involve taking soil samples, measuring plant growth and establishment, or observing changes in key metrics. We aim to keep these activities as straightforward as possible while still collecting the information needed.

• Regular Updates: We'll periodically compile data from the RCD Project Tracker and share updates. You will see how your work contributes to larger efforts to reduce emissions and improve land health.

• Transparency and Privacy: The RCD Project Tracker will publicly report project progress for up to 10 years. It tracks project details, accomplishments, and funding in a way that maintains your privacy while making sure public funds are used transparently.

• Integration with Local Goals: The results will also be shared with county climate action planning agencies to ensure that the progress made on your land is recognized in broader greenhouse gas accounting and environmental planning efforts.

• Methods: Verification might be done through landowner agreements, periodic check-ins, and/or photo documentation. Depending on the practice, verification might occur during implementation or through comparisons of pre- and post-implementation conditions.

• Building Trust in the Process: Verification is about making sure the benefits we report are real and accurate. It also helps build trust in your efforts and the overall program.