Conservation Capitalism: Mitigating Carbon Through Nature

Norfolk Southern’s community conservation program, Trees and Trains, turns the railroad’s carbon footprint into a corporate opportunity. Through reforestation and land conservation partnerships, Trees and Trains mitigates greenhouse gas emissions from business operations and generates environmental, economic, and social benefits.

Launched in 2011, the program balances business imperatives of economic growth with preservation of natural resources. Norfolk Southern has partnered with GreenTrees to reforest former woodlands in the Mississippi Delta; The Nature Conservancy to plant longleaf pines in Virginia; the American Chestnut Foundation to restore American chestnut trees to their historic range; and the Longleaf Alliance to support research and growth of longleaf pine forest ecosystems.

Over time, the trees planted with Norfolk Southern’s support will improve air and water quality, provide recreational opportunities and jobs, create habitats for wildlife, and generate income for landowners. Norfolk Southern hopes to earn an economic return on some of these projects by selling carbon credits earned as the trees mature.

Learn more at http://nssustainability.com/conservation/carbon.php