Resources

We’re building this resource library of informational articles to help advance ecological restoration efforts in the Upper Midwest.

Mitigation Partners Inc. (MPI) works with all of its partners to create up to date, relevant information for visitors, partners and the general public interested in environmental and ecological restoration or mitigation.

The goal is to make available informational and educational information for anyone interested in the areas of expertise of MPI and its partners.

>> Specific questions for MPI? Get in touch with us today!

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wetland restoration Dax Dickson wetland restoration Dax Dickson

Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology: Baseline Scenario 

In general terms, the baseline scenario of a carbon offset project is analyzing the land use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a project area if the project were not to occur. Having an accurate baseline scenario is a crucial step for carbon offset projects. This is because the removal/reduction of GHG emissions from the project will be compared to the GHG emissions from the baseline scenario. Thus, having huge implications on the amounts of carbon credits awarded to the project once run through a crediting GHG program like the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).

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wetland restoration Dax Dickson wetland restoration Dax Dickson

Carbon Markets: Compliance Vs. Voluntary

In the process of moving the world to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the development of carbon markets took shape. These markets allow companies, NGOs, and even individuals to trade emissions. This is done in the form of carbon credits, a verified and validated unit, where one credit equals one metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent avoided, reduced, or removed from the atmosphere. Two markets exist where these units are traded, compliance markets and voluntary markets. Mitigation Partners, Inc. (MPI) is looking at what these two markets are and how they are regulated.

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wetland restoration Dax Dickson wetland restoration Dax Dickson

Nature-Based Solutions as a solution to Climate Change

Due to the numerous positive benefits of NBS and their cost-effective and sustainable approach to environmental issues, they are becoming increasingly popular as a viable alternative to traditional engineering solutions. Minnesota contains a plethora of restorative carbon sequestration opportunities rooted in the Nature-based solutions framework. From the drained peatlands up north to the reforestation opportunities around the State. Mitigation Partners Inc. is committed to restoring natural habitats, improving biodiversity, creating economic opportunities, and improving the health of our Minnesota community.

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wetland restoration Dax Dickson wetland restoration Dax Dickson

Exploring the Carbon Cycle: What It Is and How It Works

The carbon cycle is an important part of the Earth's climate system. The cycle involves the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, land, and oceans. The land and oceans each have carbon sinks which store atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) for some time before it is released and cycles through again. It is an essential process for supporting life on Earth and overall environmental health. This relationship can be complex and takes long periods to study. However, a few simple explanations can make this topic more clear.

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wetland restoration Tory Christensen wetland restoration Tory Christensen

Carbon Sequestration: The Future of Combating Climate Change?

Carbon sequestration is an important topic of conversation in the world today. It involves capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it via biological, geological, or technological methods. Carbon sequestration aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Moving forward, this process is a critically important part of the effort to mitigate the effects of climate change.

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wetland restoration Kristin Shardlow wetland restoration Kristin Shardlow

Waters of the United States over time

The definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS) plays a crucial role in determining the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA), which is the primary federal law for protecting the quality of the nation's water resources. The CWA does not define WOTUS; rather, it provides the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the regulatory agencies that oversee the CWA, with the authority to define WOTUS in regulations. The definition of WOTUS has a long and complex history that has been shaped by a variety of legal, political, and environmental factors.

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wetland restoration Kristin Shardlow wetland restoration Kristin Shardlow

Credit Sales

The primary goal at MPI is to have a full understanding of the available banks and credits coming online now and in the future. In the Upper Midwest there are currently more banks available and more coming online than ever before. It has never been more important to have a finger on the pulse of projects getting permitted and those needing credits.

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Wetland Identification: Do I Have A Wetland On My Property?

Minnesota’s wetlands come in different shapes, sizes and forms, but all provide numerous ecological services to plants, animals and humans alike. But what exactly is a wetland? Is it that cattail pond in my neighbor’s backyard? Or is that seasonally flooded lowland on my property? Here we offer a basic overview of wetlands and ways to identify them.

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Get to know Minnesota’s
8 Wetland Types

Taking into account the edaphic (soil-related), botanical, and hydrological variability among the types of wetlands in the United States, experts have developed a number of classification systems to categorize wetlands. One such system is Circular 39, developed in 1956 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Circular 39 defines twenty different types of wetlands found in the U.S. The first eight are inland freshwater wetland types, all of them found in Minnesota.

  • Seasonally-Flooded Basin

    Type 1: Seasonally-Flooded Basin

    Although often overlooked at first glance, the seasonally flooded basin is a vital wetland ecosystem that has unique characteristics and provides essential environmental and economic services. Read more…

  • Wet Meadow

    Type 2: Wet Meadows

    Admired for their diverse plant communities and their ability to support rare and valuable species, wet meadows are considered invaluable wetland ecosystems that provide essential environmental and economic services. Read more…

  • Shallow Marsh

    Type 3: Shallow Marshes

    Although commonplace, a shallow marsh is a highly regarded ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife and provides essential services for people and ecosystems alike. Read more…

  • Deep Marsh

    Type 4: Deep Marshes

    Known as “prairie potholes” in southern Minnesota, deep marshes are water-filled basins that provide food and resting areas for migratory birds and many other wildlife species. Read more…

  • Inland Open Freshwater

    Type 5: Inland Open Freshwater

    Most often enjoyed by people for canoeing, hunting, and fishing, open freshwater wetlands are an accessible source of recreation and viewing plant and animal species. Read More…

  • Shrub Swamp

    Type 6: Shrub Swamps

    As their locations and landscape positions are similar to those occupied by wooded swamps, shrub swamps have similar soils and perform similar ecosystem services. Read More…

  • Wooded Swamp

    Type 7: Wooded Swamps

    Wooded swamps are a common feature on the Minnesota landscape throughout the state, but especially in central and northern Minnesota. They contribute vastly to the quality of life of every Minnesotan through the ecosystem services they perform, the timber they provide, their benefits to wildlife, their beauty, and the recreational opportunities they afford. Read more…

  • Bog

    Type 8: Bogs

    One of North America’s most distinctive kinds of wetlands, bogs are filled with spongy peat, acidic water, and a thick layer of sphagnum moss. They prevent downstream flooding by absorbing precipitation and provide habitat to animal species that are threatened by human encroachment. Read More…