Soil carbon sequestration has the potential to provide significant economic and environmental benefits to communities in semi-arid regions around the world. Increased levels of carbon enhance soil fertility and water retention capacity, leading to higher agricultural productivity. Communities also can obtain financial incentives through carbon trading programs. However, the realization of these benefits and incentives requires more than technical capacity. It calls for communities to organize themselves to implement land use practices at a scale broad enough to participate in such trading programs. Participating communities must demonstrate continuity and