[Terrapreta] C02 Tree Capture – how much carbon dioxide do trees really capture?

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Loulou gold wrote:
> Hmmm. Did ya watch the video?
No. Couldn't get it open.
> It clearly states that soil and water are the main limiting factors.
That is no great revelation.
> Therefore, if you want to have plants and trees pulling CO2 out of the 
> atmosphere, you better work on soil fertility and its ability to 
> retain water. Perfect tasks for TP.
The problem I see is that Tree Huggers seem to be against Man messing 
with Forests. This being the case, it will be difficult for TP to attain 
its maximum potential
>
> I don't consider myself as a spokesperson for the tree-huggers. 
You might not be an Officially Designated Tree Hugger spokesman, but you 
seem to promote Tree Hugger beliefs and positions. I seek to understand 
the Tree Hugger Position, and to see how it can work with Terra Preta 
that is made from char that comes from trees.
> Actually, across the past year, Terra Preta maybe transforming my 
> awareness and ideology more toward conscious farming. 
That is great. We are all here to learn. I wish to learn the general 
position on Tree Huggers with respect to using trees for production of TP

> The main inspiration of TP for me is that the El Dorado story says 
> that once there was a civilization of high density populations living 
> in harmony with nature and  forests. This is very contrary to the 
> history of western civilization which advanced via deforestation. 
> Indeed, it is so different that it might constitute a vitally 
> necessary paradigm shift and carry us from the issues of scarcity into 
> the joys of abundance. I don't know that this is true. I suspect it 
> might be. I want to find out.
Does this mean that you used to be a Tree Hugger, and now seeing errors 
in your previous ways? :-) If so, how do you see Tree Hugging changing 
in the future, so that it becomes a sustainable philosophy?
>
> I believe strongly that we need to stop logging any more intact 
> primary forests. A complete halt is unlikely. All steps of avoided or 
> reduced deforestation need to be rewarded. Carbon credits are a good way.
Preserving our Old Growth Forests is a wonderful idea, which I fully 
support for many reasons. However, I definitely do not support 
preservation of Old Growth Forests as a means of Carbon Sequestration. 
Since trees rot, they do not sequester carbon, but rather, tehy provide 
"short term immobilization." I might be wrong, but I feel that promoting 
wood as a means of sequestering Carbon is totally and absolutely wrong, 
and it derails the great potential for TP to truly sequester carbon.

Be very wary of Carbon Credits. I think it is a major big time mistake 
to hang the future of TP on Carbon Credits. Do a search on "carbon 
credit scam", and get 2,260 hits, all of which I have looked at being 
very interesting. Like Alice in Wonderland was wont to say "Start at the 
beginning." See: http://www.carboncreditscam.com/
>
> As far as as intelligent forest management is concerned, I recommend 
> that you check out the Menominee Tribal Forest which has won many 
> awards and recognitions. 
> http://www.menominee.edu/sdi/RAndEMission.html 
> <http://www.menominee.edu/sdi/RAndEMission.html>
I do not wish to demean their good efforts, but virtually any competent 
Forestry Engineer can configure a Forest Management Program that will 
accomplish the desired end goal, within natural limits. Just tell him 
(her) what you want done, then he (she) can do it. You want Mushrooms, 
he can do it. You want Pulpwood, he can do it. You want a Park, he can 
do it. You want logs, he can do it. You want a healthy diverse 
nonuniform aged stand, he can do it. You want Agriforestry, he can do 
it. You want "sustainability, he can do it. You want fuelwood, he can do 
it. You want all the above in one package, he can do it. Forestry 
Engineers are not incompetent and irresponsible. Au contraire. The 
problem is the people who steer them. The solution is in the people who 
steer them.

So, please "come out of the woods" and tell us what the Tree Huggers 
could live with now, and where you feel they should change, so that TP 
can progress using forest wood for char.

Best wishes,

Kevin
>
> hugs,
>
> lou
>
> On Dec 5, 2007 10:12 AM, Kevin Chisholm <kchisholm at ca.inter.net 
> <mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net>> wrote:
>
>     Dear David and Lou
>
>     Most of us on the Terra Preta List have an "environmentally
>     responsible
>     leaning", a sense of beauty, and an appreciation of the good things a
>     tree can do. However, what I see is that extremism seldom works in an
>     optimal manner. Mother Nature is smart, and she seems to favor
>     diversity. It is absolutely impossible for Man to exist on this Earth
>     without interacting with Mother Nature. Either we get Divorced and one
>     of us leaves, or we find ways that we can live on Earth in a
>     sustainable
>     basis. Otherwise, one of us will die, and the other will be seriously
>     injured.
>
>     As Representatives of our "Resident Tree Huggers", what would you and
>     David recommend as tree cutting guidelines  acceptable to the Tree
>     Huggers?
>
>     Under what conditions would the Tree Hugging Community agree to using
>     wood as a source of carbon for Terra Preta?
>
>     Kevin
>
>     lou gold wrote:
>     > Good Morning to All,
>     >
>     > Another good one from ABC.
>     > http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1901661.htm
>     >
>     > I draw the lesson that if one wants trees and other plants to
>     capture
>     > carbon it's best to work on renewing the soil.
>     >
>     > hugs,   lou
>     >
>     >
>     >
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> -- 
> http://lougold.blogspot.com/
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