Why is DU only paying for 10 years on native prairie, but 20 years for expired CRP?

The carbon market values carbon credits from “avoided loss” going forward no more than 10 years in the future. In addition, the market is willing to consider the amount of new carbon that was sequestered when grassland was established on CRP going back 10 years in time. Hence, CRP is credited with 10 years back in time (planted grassland) plus 10 years forward in time (avoided loss and continued sequestration), for a total of 20 years. Native prairie, because it has existed for 10,000 years and was not re-building carbon stores as did the new grass on CRP, is only credited with 10 years of avoided loss going forward in time. DU representatives can discuss details of how we value carbon in other situations.