PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (May 6, 2025) — Ashley James, M.S., program leader of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Prairie View A&M University, has been awarded more than $1.5 million in grant funding from the USDA Forest Service for her research on the Small Landowner Carbon Collective Engagement Project.
Ashley James, M.S.
Elliott Washington, Ph.D., also of PVAMU, will serve as co-principal investigator.
This project aims to encourage small-acreage landowners in East Texas to participate in emerging forest carbon markets and adopt resilient forestry practices. Activities include implementing site-specific forest management practices within a cooperative of small landowners and facilitating their entry into carbon marketplaces with reduced risk.
The initiative builds on an existing partnership and regional network to align with the USFS goal of integrating landowners with less than 2,500 acres into private climate mitigation markets. It leverages a proof-of-concept initiative led by Texas-based universities and nonprofits deeply rooted in local communities.
By Joe McGinty