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

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear Loulou gold wrote:
> Oooops, I missed the "wood for charcoal question". This one is complex 
> and there is no way I can do it justice. 
Very true. The corollary of which is that you do "wood for charcoal" a 
great injustice when you practically advocate that trees not be used for 
charcoal and TP.
> Here are just a few considerations...
>
> 1. Again, it is most paramount that primary forests are not cut for 
> this purpose.
What do you mean by a "primary forest?" Is a conversion cut of an 
existing stand permissable to Tree Huggers?
>
> 2. Here in Brazil, eucalyptus is grown for charcoal on a huge scale. 
> It even fuels the iron foundries. This is what you do when there is no 
> cheap coal available. I am told told that there are better and worse 
> ways to do it. Cutting primary forests for the first round of charcoal 
> and replacing them with eucalyptus plantations is a bad way. Vast 
> eucalyptus monocultures are a bad way. Placing eucalyptus stands as 
> one of several crops in a diversified farming operation is a good way.
What are your thoughts on "patchwork monoculture?"
>
> 3. I'm very uneasy about the new ethanol from cellulose approach with 
> genetically modified trees but I'm not qualified to have a real 
> intelligent judgment here.
OK... this is the TP list. Lets stick to issues relating to getting C 
from Trees for TP.
>
> 4, I would vastly prefer to see wood wastes go into producing char for 
> the soil instead of for fuel or co-generation.
This is the TP list. We are not talking about char for fuel, but rather, 
char for TP.
>
> OK, that's a start -- barely scratches the surface I'm sure.
So, how does the Tree Hugger fit with tree wood being used for TP?

Kevin
>
> hugs,   lou
>
>
>
> On Dec 5, 2007 11:14 AM, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com 
> <mailto:lou.gold at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>     Hmmm. Did ya watch the video? It clearly states that soil and
>     water are the main limiting factors. 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.
>
>     I don't consider myself as a spokesperson for the tree-huggers.
>     Actually, across the past year, Terra Preta maybe transforming my
>     awareness and ideology more toward conscious farming. 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.
>
>     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.
>
>     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>
>
>     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/
>     http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/ 
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> http://lougold.blogspot.com/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/ 
> <http://www.flickr.com/photos/visionshare/sets/>