[Terrapreta] The Soil Carbon Manifesto

[Michael Bailes]

May 07, 2008 The Soil Carbon
Manifesto<http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/soil-carbon-manifesto.html>
http://leftclickblog.blogspot.com/2008/01/biochar-sustainable-carbon.html

<http://bp3.blogger.com/_fTsAvkuJrEk/RmycAYOEeYI/AAAAAAAAAdo/M2ZIVDHRIhc/s400/Slide2.jpg>

This manifesto is interesting for its focus. But what it doesn't tell you is
how reliant the Coalition is in its perspectives on carbon emissions trading
scheme to secure a "healthy profit". I can see their POV and I think it has
to be addressed because moving to sustainable agriculture with its related
benefits in regard to carbon sequestration has to include a scheme which
ensures farmers are economically viable as they need the fund the
transition.

There is even an "adopt a farmer" scheme by buying
<http://www.adoptafarmer.com.au/> Australian Farm Soil
Credits<http://www.adoptafarmer.com.au/>
.

While this approach is in step & in sync with the strategy of value adding
to farm product it is unfortunate that farmers should be tied to such a
motivator in order to protect their incomes if they move to a carbon farming
regime. -- DR

The Carbon Coalition <http://www.carboncoalition.com.au/#manifesto> is a
group of concerned Australians who believe the globe is facing a crisis of
CO2 overload leading to Global Warming and that one of the most effective
strategies for locking up carbon in our atmosphere is to be found in
fostering deep-rooted plant species on land used for agriculture. [image:
Capturing more carbon in agricultural soils will mean water is used where it
falls, leading to cleaner waterways and less silting.]

Capturing more carbon in agricultural soils will mean water

is used where it falls, leading to cleaner waterways and less silting.

We urge governments and the business community to acknowledge the role that
agricultural soils can play in addressing the Global Warming crisis. Farmers
can play a central role in sequestering carbon in their soils by fostering
deep-rooted perennial plant species that have significant biomass in their
root systems.

Soil biomass is a natural carbon sink and should be used to create carbon
credits which can be traded alongside those currently traded for forests.
  SOILS CAN SAVE THE WORLD

We stand by the following facts:

   - The terrestrial biosphere currently sequesters 2 billion metric tons
   of carbon annually. (*US Department of Agriculture*)
   - Soils contain 82% of terrestrial carbon.
   - "Enhancing the natural processes that remove CO2 from the atmosphere
   is thought to be the most cost-effective means of reducing atmospheric
   levels of CO2." (*US Department of Energy*)
   - "Soil organic carbon is the largest reservoir in interaction with
   the atmosphere." (*United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation*) -
   Vegetation 650 gigatons, atmosphere 750 gigatons, soil 1500 gigatons
   - The carbon sink capacity of the world's agricultural and degraded
   soils is 50% to 66% of the historic carbon loss of 42 to 78 gigatons of
   carbon.
   - Grazing land comprises more than half the total land surface
   - An acre of pasture can sequester more carbon than an acre of forest.
   - "Soil represents the largest carbon sink over which we have control.
   Improvements in soil carbon levels could be made in all rural areas, whereas
   the regions suited to carbon sequestration in plantation timber are
   limited." (*Dr Christine Jones*)

 BENEFITS FOR THE NATION AND THE COMMUNITY

The benefits of rewarding farmers for contributing to carbon sequestration
include the following:

   - Improved soil health, protecting our most precious national resource
   - Increased soil fertility, boosting productivity and competitiveness
   - Better usage of water, reducing erosion, silting, and salination
   - Reduced danger of rising salt levels, lowering the water table
   - Reduced loss of topsoil to wind and runoff with 100% ground cover
   - Increased farm incomes, increasing viability in volatile industries
   - Increased farm values, giving farm families financial flexibility
   - Foster growth in farm communities, providing employment
   opportunities and protecting social infrastructure

 Read More...

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-- 
Michael the Archangel
"Politicians will never solve The Problem;
because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
-Robert ( Bob ) Parsons 1995
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