WASHINGTON, D.C. — The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has joined a new partnership to measure and sequester the carbon stored in the world's landscapes to make it easier to make agricultural choices that minimize carbon dioxide emissions.

The nonprofit will join Michigan State University, the World Agroforestry Center and the Center of International Forestry Research for the Carbon Benefits Project, which is part of the Global Environment Facility and United Nations Environment Programme.

Together the organizations will attempt to crack the dilemma of measuring terrestrial carbon, with a special examination of complex landscapes, such as desert, forest, farmland or villages.

The partners will use remote sensing technology, ground-based measurement and statistical analysis to establish a methodology for measuring, monitoring and reporting baselines and outcomes from projects involving terrestrial ecosystems in what could become a new international standard.

"This project will offer a set of tools to help farmers, forest managers, and others better protect their land, increase productivity, and do this in a way that will help fight climate change," Ginette Hemley, WWF's senior vice president for conservation strategy and science, said in a statement.

The best practices and tools will be compiled into an online web portal.

Image -- CC licensed by Flickr user ClickFlashPhotos.