[Terrapreta] Bali Media Opportunity

[Tom Miles]

Ruy,

Thank you for the explanations. I have worked on PDD documents for biomass
energy projects and I agree with a strategy to develop projects in the four
target countries you suggest: China, India, Brazil and Mexico. I can think
of good potential project areas in Mexico and Brazil. I wonder if some
existing terra preta project areas would be good sites to propose CDM
projects. Existing projects may have the institutional infrastructure to
support the organizational demands of CDM projects.    

In terms of justifying terra Preta projects it seems that the work by Dr.
Ogawa and colleagues should be useful. See  Carbon Sequestration by
Carbonization of Biomass and Forestation: Three Case Studies by Ogawa,
Okimori and Takahashi http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/ogawacarbon2006 

The use of charcoal for fuel vs soil is an important issue and may be why we
have not seen efforts to use charcoal in arid regions of Brazil, for
example. I have thought that Christoph Steiner's slash and char technique of
using char in planting holes might be a way of using less char to show
results that should hopefully lead to increased use were char is mostly used
for fuel.

Regards,

Tom
  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ruy Korscha Anaya de la Rosa [mailto:korscha at gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 11:50 AM
> To: lou gold
> Cc: Tom Miles; Terrapreta; info at eco-carbone.com; Guy Reinaud
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Bali Media Opportunity
> 
> Hello Tom, Sean, Lou and all,
> 
> You can find the regular process for submitting a new CDM methodology
> clicking on the following link:
> 
> http://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/pac/howto/CDMProjectActivity/NewMethodol
> ogy/index.html
> 
> A Designated Operational Entity (DOE) is usually the starting point.
> The DOEs are the official validation, verification and certification
> companies accredited by the Executive Board (EB) to perform these
> activities.
> 
> So, the project developer must introduce its terra preta project to a
> DOE (I do not know how expensive is this but it represents a cost for
> sure) by submitting the Project Design Document (PDD) with its
> respective terra preta methodology. The forms can be found also by
> clicking on the link above. Then the PDD and the new methodology are
> forwarded to the EB and Meth Panel for revision.
> 
> Therefore, first of all, a specific terra preta project and terra
> preta methodology in a certain developing country must be developed. I
> have been thinking that, to start with, terra preta projects under the
> CDM might be more appropriate in major developing economies such as
> China, India, Brazil and Mexico.
> 
> These 4 countries are developing at a fast pace, their greenhouse gas
> (GHG) emissions are rapidly increasing and their future energy demand
> is alarming. Because of this, industrailized nations, particularly the
> resilient U.S.A, want them to commit to legally binding CO2 targets in
> a Post-Kyoto regime (By the way, this is one of the most important
> topics to be treated in Bali). New windows of opportunity will be
> opened for these 4 countries. terra preta???
> 
> Furthermore, the CDM projects in the pipeline of only these 4
> countries represent a little bit more than 80% of all the CDM projects
> worldwide. There are several reasons behind this and expertise is one
> of them. Moreover, in some areas in these countries forests are
> already administered in a sustainable manner for some time now or are
> in the way to achieve this. And obviously, a terra preta project must
> be accompanied with sustainable management of forests.
> 
> Tom, I know very well Pro Natura's biochar project. I have been in
> contact with them here in Paris. Actually Action Carbone is buying the
> Verified Emission Reductions (VERs) of their project in Senegal
> through the Voluntary Carbon Market (not CDM). However, it is not a
> terra preta project because they are using the biochar produced to
> replace traditional charcoal which is used to cook their food with.
> So, this brings me to a polemic argument that terra preta might face
> sooner or later and also another motive for considering first the
> major developing countries I described:
> 
> How are you going to dig the biochar in the soil instead of using it
> directly to substitute traditional fuels in economically poor regions
> where deforestation remains uncontrolled and biomass is their primary
> energy source??
> 
> I do not know Eco-Carbone and I do not know if both mentioned
> organizations are going to Bali. It would be interesting to know what
> they think and how they can help.
> 
> Everyone's contribution is welcome.
> 
> cheers,
> 
> Ruy
> 
> ------------------------------------------
> Ruy Korscha Anaya de la Rosa
> Project Manager
> Goodplanet / Action Carbone
> Domaine de Longchamp,
> Carrefour de Longchamp
> 75116 PARIS
> France
> Tel: +33 (0) 1 48 42 76 04
> <www.goodplanet.org> <www.actioncarbone.org>
> E-mail: ruy at yannarthusbertrand.org ; ruy at actioncarbone.org
> 
> 
> 
> On 11/23/07, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Tom,
> >
> > I'm in Brazil. I'm not sure where Ruy is located.
> > I will try to check it out and report back.
> >
> > lou
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Nov 23, 2007 4:11 PM, Tom Miles < tmiles at trmiles.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Ruy,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Pronatura and Eco-Carbone are organizations promoting biochar in
> Brazil.
> > They are both located in Paris. Eco-carbone has CDM projects in
> Gabon,
> > Niger, Mali, China and Russia so they should be quite familiar with
> paths to
> > make biochar eligible for CDM.
> > >
> > > http://www.pronatura.org/en/becs.html
> > >
> > > http://www.eco-carbone.com/english.html
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Are these organizations likely to be in Bali? Can they be enlisted
> to
> > help?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Are other organization that have been active in Brazil engaged in
> CDM
> > discussions about terra preta?
> > >
> > > See:
> > http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/taxonomy/term/6/9
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Tom Miles
> > >
> > > http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From: terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org
> > [mailto:terrapreta-bounces at bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
> > Ruy Korscha Anaya de la Rosa
> > > Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 6:05 AM
> > > To: Terrapreta
> > > Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Bali Media Opportunity
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hello Terrapreta list members,
> > >
> > > I have been reading this list since its beginning but unfortunately
> I
> > haven't been participative.
> > > I think Lou opened the gate for me with his e-mail (cheers Lou), so
> I
> > decided to set the foot in the door.
> > >
> > > Let me give you a brief introduction of myself:
> > > I am Ruy Korscha Anaya de la Rosa, a Mexican passport holder, but
> most
> > relevant: a World Citizen highly concerned about the link between
> > sustainable development and global warming and its consequences.
> > >
> > > I specialized in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto
> > Protocol and its opportunities and barriers in Least Developed
> Countries. I
> > have witnessed CDM's complex, slow, expensive and bureaucratic
> procedures
> > from a project developer's view to, currently, a carbon credit
> buyer's
> > perspective. I have followed notably the issue on non-renewable
> biomass.
> > >
> > > The two methodologies addressing non-renewable biomass have been
> recently
> > approved by the CDM's Executive Board but, apparently, they now need
> the
> > green light from the Conference-Meeting of the Parties (CMP) next
> month in
> > Bali.
> > >
> > > The constant exchange (almost two years now) of several drafts of
> these
> > methodologies and their respective "requests for revision" between
> the CDM's
> > Executive Board, Methodology Panel and submitting parties makes me
> think
> > that a CDM officialy approved terra preta methodology would take
> ages.
> > >
> > > I have personally talked about terra preta to a considerable amount
> of
> > carbon market participants and they, despite of not understanding the
> term
> > and how it works, seem interested to know more about terra preta. As
> Lou
> > implies, we should hurry up and indeed put terra preta under the
> spotlight
> > next month in Bali.
> > >
> > > I am very much interested in including terra preta projects in the
> Carbon
> > Finance Portfolio whether in the CDM or in the Voluntary Carbon
> Market.
> > Therefore I am packing terra preta in my bag and bringing it with me
> to
> > Bali.
> > >
> > > Positive energies to all of you,
> > >
> > > Ruy
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------
> > > Ruy Korscha Anaya de la Rosa
> > >  Project Manager
> > >  Goodplanet / Action Carbone
> > >  Domaine de Longchamp,
> > >  Carrefour de Longchamp
> > >  75116 PARIS
> > >  France
> > >  Tel: +33 (0) 1 48 42 76 04
> > >  <www.goodplanet.org> <www.actioncarbone.org>
> > >  E-mail: ruy at yannarthusbertrand.org ; ruy at actioncarbone.org
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Nov 23, 2007 1:53 PM, lou gold <lou.gold at gmail.com > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Everyone,
> > >
> > > The Bali meetings to replace or revise the Kyoto protocols will
> take place
> > Dec 3 - 14. These meeting will generate a lot of media attention
> worldwide.
> > And that will also be a great opportunity to connect with bloggers,
> > editorial boards, journalists and the like. From what I have read
> carbon
> > capture and sequestration in the soil is NOT ON THE AGENDA.
> > >
> > > But not to fear. This is a process building toward new protocols
> and a new
> > "carbon economy." Therefore it is extremely important that we enter
> the
> > dialogue. It's a magnificient opportunity to people -- lay and
> expert,
> > public and private -- interested. We need to start crafting our
> messages,
> > pleas, letters to the editor, whatevers and make sure that we crank
> them out
> > during the short period of media spotlight and attention. We need to
> help
> > give terra preta a voice that might move the world from fossil fuel
> darkness
> > into a living and growing light.
> > >
> > >
> > > Here is the rap at the official site at
> > http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4094.php
> > >
> > > What is expected from the Bali Conference?
> > >
> > > An international agreement needs to be found to follow the end of
> the
> > Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period, which ends in 2012. In
> order to
> > avoid a gap between then and the entry into force of a new framework,
> the
> > aim is to conclude a new deal by 2009 to allow enough time for
> ratification.
> > >
> > > The "Bali roadmap" would establish the process to work on the key
> building
> > blocks of a future climate change regime, including adaptation,
> mitigation,
> > technology cooperation and financing the response to climate change.
> But it
> > would also need to set out the methodology and detailed calendar of
> work for
> > this process.
> > >
> > >