Comments on: Climate change: What to do in Bali? Avoid rearranging the deckchairs http://rs.resalliance.org/2007/11/22/climate-change-what-to-do-in-bali-avoid-rearranging-the-deckchairs/ coping with ecological suprise in a human dominated world Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:46:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Lou Gold http://rs.resalliance.org/2007/11/22/climate-change-what-to-do-in-bali-avoid-rearranging-the-deckchairs/#comment-97771 Lou Gold Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:10:19 +0000 http://rs.resalliance.org/2007/11/22/climate-change-what-to-do-in-bali-avoid-rearranging-the-deckchairs/#comment-97771 Bali is critical for creating a new tipping point that can lead us from disaster toward healing and abundance. It all has to do what is recognized as true carbon sequestration. There is hope that reduced or avoided deforestation will receive the recognition that it truly deserves. AND, now is also the time that we can jump-start a new relationship between ecology and economy -- a healing one -- by focusing attention on the soil. Technology and economy have always driven the relationship between humans and nature. But now, with so many people, the relationship between technology and economy also holds the future of the human race and the planet. There can be much much good — what we view as progress. And there can be problems — terrible ones. Much depends on the positive feedback loops. Global warming means there will be more food grown in Canada and its thawing permafrost will release even more greenhouse gases. The question is not really about having technology or profits or progress -- or not -- but whether a particular techno-economic approach gives us new and larger problems or new and larger solutions? A positive feedback loop for solutions? Hmmmm, I hope that got your attention. Is such a thing possible? I believe the answer is YES and it takes the form of an ancient-future soil technology called Terra Preta do Indio (Portuguese for Indian Black Earth). Recent research emerging from the Amazon basin is locating large deposits of an extremely fertile and resilent soil called terra preta. It appears to be human-made, ancient indians adding charcoal to the soil to produce the result — carbon dating says much of it is 2500 to 4000 years old. Terra preta soil is so productive — up to 800% increased plant growth — that it could have easily supported an agriculture capable of feeding millions of people living in great cities in the central Amazon basin. Hmmmm (again). This is the legend of El Dorado. But do we have to embrace a mythic vision, a conquistador’s dream of gold? Is there some solid science involved? Might there actually be a modern soil technolgy whereby faster growing plants would draw more CO2 out of the atmosphere and the unused plant waste turned into charcoal to be returned to the soil — resulting in increased crop yields, more carbon capture and long term sequestration, more food and fuel for increasing populations, and a new era of abundance. In other words, might there be a positive feedback loop for healing ourselves and the earth? A technologically and economically supported relationship for bringing human beings and nature into a mutually supportive marriage? A sustainable relationship of abundance? The data are not in but the soil research is being conducted and the hopes are great. But we will need more than new agricultural technology. Right now the overwhelming economic opportunities are located in creating fuel. What can incentivize devoting a portion of the charcoal that can be produced from agricultural waste to amendments for renewing the soil? THE CARBON EXCHANGE CAN PRODUCE THE NEEDED ECONOMIC TIPPING POINT. Those who have no choice about polluting ways can fund those who have a choice but incur lost opportunities for short-term profits if they do the right thing. We can leave the blame-game and help each other. What a concept! Please check out the following links to discover more about this exciting possibility. The ABC 11 minute video about the the modern version of terra preta called “Agrichar”. http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s2012892.htm Kelpie Wilson’s lay person’s introduction to terra preta. http://www.biochar-international.org/images/Joyful_Liiving_Terra_Preta_Sept-Oct_0207.pdf Research confirms that char added to soil boosts crop productivity. http://biopact.com/2007/06/research-confirms-biochar-in-soils.html The BBC documentary, “The Secret of El Dorado”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/eldorado.shtml Ken Salazar has introduced a bill in the US Senate that would fund research on agrichar. http://biopact.com/2007/10/towards-carbon-negative-bioenergy-us.html I report the story unfolding from Brazil here. http://lougold.blogspot.com/ Lou Gold An American in Brazil Bali is critical for creating a new tipping point that can lead us from disaster toward healing and abundance. It all has to do what is recognized as true carbon sequestration. There is hope that reduced or avoided deforestation will receive the recognition that it truly deserves. AND, now is also the time that we can jump-start a new relationship between ecology and economy — a healing one — by focusing attention on the soil.

Technology and economy have always driven the relationship between humans and nature. But now, with so many people, the relationship between technology and economy also holds the future of the human race and the planet. There can be much much good — what we view as progress. And there can be problems — terrible ones. Much depends on the positive feedback loops. Global warming means there will be more food grown in Canada and its thawing permafrost will release even more greenhouse gases.

The question is not really about having technology or profits or progress — or not — but whether a particular techno-economic approach gives us new and larger problems or new and larger solutions? A positive feedback loop for solutions? Hmmmm, I hope that got your attention. Is such a thing possible? I believe the answer is YES and it takes the form of an ancient-future soil technology called Terra Preta do Indio (Portuguese for Indian Black Earth).

Recent research emerging from the Amazon basin is locating large deposits of an extremely fertile and resilent soil called terra preta. It appears to be human-made, ancient indians adding charcoal to the soil to produce the result — carbon dating says much of it is 2500 to 4000 years old. Terra preta soil is so productive — up to 800% increased plant growth — that it could have easily supported an agriculture capable of feeding millions of people living in great cities in the central Amazon basin. Hmmmm (again). This is the legend of El Dorado.

But do we have to embrace a mythic vision, a conquistador’s dream of gold? Is there some solid science involved? Might there actually be a modern soil technolgy whereby faster growing plants would draw more CO2 out of the atmosphere and the unused plant waste turned into charcoal to be returned to the soil — resulting in increased crop yields, more carbon capture and long term sequestration, more food and fuel for increasing populations, and a new era of abundance. In other words, might there be a positive feedback loop for healing ourselves and the earth? A technologically and economically supported relationship for bringing human beings and nature into a mutually supportive marriage? A sustainable relationship of abundance?

The data are not in but the soil research is being conducted and the hopes are great. But we will need more than new agricultural technology. Right now the overwhelming economic opportunities are located in creating fuel. What can incentivize devoting a portion of the charcoal that can be produced from agricultural waste to amendments for renewing the soil?

THE CARBON EXCHANGE CAN PRODUCE THE NEEDED ECONOMIC TIPPING POINT.

Those who have no choice about polluting ways can fund those who have a choice but incur lost opportunities for short-term profits if they do the right thing. We can leave the blame-game and help each other. What a concept!

Please check out the following links to discover more about this exciting possibility.

The ABC 11 minute video about the the modern version of terra preta called “Agrichar”. http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s2012892.htm

Kelpie Wilson’s lay person’s introduction to terra preta. http://www.biochar-international.org/images/Joyful_Liiving_Terra_Preta_Sept-Oct_0207.pdf

Research confirms that char added to soil boosts crop productivity. http://biopact.com/2007/06/research-confirms-biochar-in-soils.html

The BBC documentary, “The Secret of El Dorado”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/2002/eldorado.shtml

Ken Salazar has introduced a bill in the US Senate that would fund research on agrichar. http://biopact.com/2007/10/towards-carbon-negative-bioenergy-us.html

I report the story unfolding from Brazil here. http://lougold.blogspot.com/

Lou Gold
An American in Brazil

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