[Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

[Duane Pendergast]

I think Sean makes a very good point here. I've been trying to follow the
machinations of the Kyoto protocol for ten years since Canada first signed
on to it. Canada's government of the day established a "National Climate
Change Process" to try and evaluate what would need to be done to meet the
Kyoto commitment. I was fortunate to be one of the 450 experts pulled into
that massive exercise from industry, government, and environmental
organizations. Please note these people were not climate experts - but those
deemed to have knowledge of techniques to manage greenhouse gases.  That
work brought many of the factors considered to my attention.

 

Canada was at the forefront of Kyoto negotiations in trying to get credits
for sequestration from agricultural initiatives including forestry -
particularly in the absence of the US. In the course of my involvement, I
came across many discussion papers agonizing over the length of time carbon
sinks from such initiatives as low till agriculture and forest growing would
remain intact. Carbon accounting "bean counters" agonized over complex
formulae to account for the impermanence of such sinks. 

 

When I first came across the "Neo Terra Preta" concept about four years ago,
I saw it as a way to bypass that kind of complexity. Charcoal apparently
lasts for up to thousands of years in the soil.  Our economic system
discounts the value of future events. Even if charcoal only lasts a couple
of hundred years in the soil that is so far in the future our economic
system should not be concerned with its durability. 

 

Thus the simple system of crediting the carbon sink when the charcoal goes
in the ground, as Sean suggests, fits well with our economic systems - and
common sense - and does not require a complex accounting system. Of course
those designing an accounting system will want proof that charcoal does keep
the sink out of the atmosphere with no significant return through decay or
conversion back to greenhouse gases in any way in a time period for which
the future value remains significant.

 

Duane

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
[mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of Sean K. Barry
Sent: June 2, 2007 12:36 AM
To: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org; Christoph Steiner; Ron Larson
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Global Carbon Cycle

 

Hi Ron,

 

You bring up an issue about carbon accounting in sequestration projects.  I
think it might not be that important of an issue.

 

Out year carbon sequestration might not be so easily measured.  But, it also
might not even need accounting for.  Measurable amounts of carbon (charcoal)
can be sequestered and earn the "carbon credits" immediately, when its
applied.  Let the out year benefits for increased soil organic carbon go on
without earning "carbon credits" on the trading scheme.  They are apparently
too hard for bean counters to measure anyway.  The out year benefits will be
for those who use the land for agriculture.  They can reap those benefits
directly, without need for a money trading scheme.

 

These new husbands of the "Neo Terra Preta" land could apply more charcoal
whenever they wanted to, earn some more "carbon credits" then, and still
reap more agricultural benefits down the line.  The sticking point on carbon
sequestration has been on making reasonable estimates (not measurements) on
future sequestrations.  "Neo Terra Preta" forming doesn't have this problem.
The tonnage of charcoal amended can be measured immediately and accurately,
upon application.  There may likely be a need to monitor whether the
charcoal is always fresh and not mined from some already paid for, "Neo
Terra Preta" formations.  Direct application of charcoal taken directly from
visable charcoal making operations ought to do the trick there, I'd think.

 

What do you think of that?

 

SKB

 

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