[Terrapreta] A context for Folke and All.

[Biopact]

Lou, 
I think most of us agree with you. But in the end, it's all a matter of rock-bottom basic economics, practicability and policy support. 

-Are the commercial advantages of biochar really a strong enough economic incentive to prevent deforestation? (I'm not sure yet)
-And can these advantages be expressed straightforwardly in monetary terms and via working markets? (Not sure yet, these carbon markets don't recognize biochar yet)
-And is the practicability of the biochar concept strong enough (logging and burning down a forst is pretty easy; putting some cattle on pasture is easy too; producing biochar on an industrial scale may require a bit more infrastructure).

I suggest we take a look into the many studies on AD and REDD; they contain the data we're looking for, since these concepts deal with exactly the same problem.

Cheers, Lorenzo (aka Lou)


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: lou gold 
  To: terrapreta group 
  Sent: Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:26 AM
  Subject: [Terrapreta] A context for Folke and All.



  Isn't this exactly what we've been talking about?

  http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/5/20/95738/8301

  Blairo Maggi -- the world's largest soy producer and one of Brazil's most powerful politicians -- says:

  With the worsening of the global food crisis, the time is coming when it will be inevitable to discuss whether we preserve the environment or produce more food. There is no way to produce more food without occupying more land and taking down more trees.

  My assumption has been that biochar might instead create any opportunity to produce more food -- enough more food -- and do a better job of preserving the environment. Does anyone truly disagree?





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