December 2009 Archives

Restoring devastated rainforest is a noble goal...but is it possible? 

Yes, says ZERI founder, Gunter Pauli.  Their organization turned waste into a productive, living, sustainable community.  It's a demonstration of natural systems-based environmental and economic development.

The Las Gaviotas reforestation project is not only about planting trees for climate stabilization; it is, primarily, about catalyzing a development program that will pave the way for creating a sustainable future for our children where society is able to provide for the basic needs of all in terms of water, food, health care, shelter, energy, jobs and education with local resources. Las Gaviotas is poised to do nothing less than reshape the face of sustainable development and, consequently, the world.

Aerial view of the 8,000 hectares, replanted with Caribbean Pine.

Imagine miles and miles of desolate savannah in Eastern Colombia, without a tree or bird or child in sight, a veritable no-man's land. For Paolo Lugari this was the perfect place to implement a vision: if a sustainable community could be created in such adverse environmental, social and political conditions, it could be done anywhere on the planet. Las Gaviotas has done just that, and much more.

In 1992, in conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol and the Japanese government, the Environmental Research Center at Las Gaviotas began substantiating the concept of carbon sinks to sequester carbon dioxide and stabilize the climate. Based on the cash generated by its renewable energy project, complemented with funding secured through the Japanese government, Las Gaviotas, founded and directed by Paolo Lugari, planted 8,000 HA of Caribbean pine trees in a savannah that had been unproductive for centuries. It was considered impossible to plant trees in such acidic, inhospitable soil (pH 4) but thanks to the innovative use of mycorrhizal fungi which acts as the saliva for the tree, the forestation was successful. More than just successful, this initiative to initiate economic activities and to validate carbon sinks unleashed a chain reaction of positive effects that surprised even the initiators of the program...

Today, more than a decade later, the forestation of 8,000 HA has resulted in 10 percent more precipitation (some 110,000 m³ per day), converting Las Gaviotas into a net supplier of drinking water, a crystalline water of superior quality. With the cost of drinking water exceeding the cost of petroleum, Las Gaviotas demonstrated that reforestation allows us to address one of the most critical issues the world is facing: access to natural potable water!

For a case study, visit the article "The Renaissance of the Rainforest" by Gunter Pauli.

New Science Estimates Carbon Storage Potential of U.S. Lands
Nation's Forests and Soils Store Equivalent of 50 Years of U.S. CO2 Emissions

The first phase of a groundbreaking national assessment estimates that U.S. forests and soils could remove additional quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere as a means to mitigate climate change.

The lower 48 states in the U.S. hypothetically have the potential to store an additional 3-7 billion metric tons of carbon in forests, if agricultural lands were to be used for planting forests.

This potential is equivalent to 2 to 4 years of America's current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels.

"Carbon pollution is putting our world--and our way of life--in peril," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in a keynote speech at the global conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark.  "By restoring ecosystems and protecting certain areas from development, the U.S. can store more carbon in ways that enhance our stewardship of land and natural resources while reducing our contribution to global warming."

U.S. Geological Survey scientists also found that the conterminous U.S. presently stores 73 billion metric tons of carbon in soils and 17 billion metric tons in forests.

This is equivalent to more than 50 years of America's current CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels. This shows the need to protect existing carbon stores to prevent additional warming and future harm to ecosystems.

Habitat Carbon Absorption = 30% of Fuel Emissions

America's forests and soils are currently insufficient in soaking up the nation's accelerating pace of emissions. They currently absorb about 30 percent (0.5 billion metric tons of carbon) of the nation's fossil fuel emissions per year (1.6 billion metric tons of carbon). Enhancing the carbon storage capacity of America's and the world's ecosystems is an important tool to reduce carbon emissions and help ecosystems adapt to changing climate conditions.

Biologic carbon sequestration

"The tools the USGS is developing--and the technologies behind those tools--will be of great use to communities around the world that are making management decisions on carbon storage," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt. "The USGS is conducting a national assessment of biologic carbon sequestration, as well as an assessment of ecosystem carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes, which will help determine how we can reduce atmospheric CO2 levels while preserving other ecological functions."

To determine how much more carbon could be stored in forests and soils, USGS scientists analyzed maps that represent historical vegetation cover before human alterations, as well as maps of vegetation that might occur if there were no natural disturbances, such as fires, pests and drought. These maps were compared to maps of current vegetation and carbon storage.

The next phase of this work will assess the additional amount of carbon stored in Alaska's ecosystems, including its soils and forests. The USGS plans to collaborate with U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies to examine potential carbon storage in soils.

The USGS is conducting research on a number of other fronts related to carbon sequestration. These efforts include evaluating the potential for storing carbon dioxide in geologic formations below the Earth's surface, potential release of greenhouse gases from Arctic soils and permafrost, and mapping the distribution of rocks suitable for potential mineral sequestration efforts.

For more information about this assessment, visit http://pubs.usgs.gov/ofr/2009/1283.

Scotty Claus is an innovative tree entrepreneur who provides rental, living Christmas trees in their community.  "Our mission 'to change the way California celebrates Christmas' began the year I spent my Christmas vacation delivering trees for Bob's Nursery in Manhattan Beach. Gleefully singing Christmas carols in a silly Santa hat, I was amazed at the sheer magic and merriment created by the simple act of bringing a Christmas tree into the house. The tree delivery signaled that Christmas in the home had truly begun.

"Contrasting that intense happiness was the sadness I felt in seeing that same tree discarded by the curb in the weeks that followed Christmas.

"It seems wrong that a tree that symbolized hope, joy and new life could be so easily abandoned. From this, the idea for The Living Christmas Company was born," and that's the story of Scotty! 

Living Christmas Co. is located in the heart of the beach communities of Los Angeles -- in Redondo Beach -- a most non-North Pole kind of community.  But Christmas spirit is just as strong, and it is very feasible to raise these Christmas trees locally in the robust nursery industry that takes advantage of the year-round growing conditions of Southern California.

Add to that natural growing advantage, a smart business model, and you have a delightful entrepreneurial venture that brings delight, service, and renewable resources to the community.

Families can rent a living tree, enjoy it and return it for another season of growth in prime nursery conditions.

Living Christmas trees can be displayed in retail businesses and enjoy cross-marketing opportunities, customer discounts, and a percentage rebate of all sales generated. Retailers may also choose to carry the line of Fair Trade and eco-sensitive ornaments on consignment or as a vendor.

The Living Christmas Company helps non-profit organization reach fundraising goals by sharing revenue from members who rent their Living Trees from the company.

Mature Tree Adoption Program: The rented Christmas trees are well loved, but sometimes, because of their size or condition,  are forced into retirement from active rental duty. These retirees are donated for urban reforestation programs and non-profit landscaping projects. Organizations can request adoption of mature trees.

Eco-Advocacy: The Living Christmas Co.  supports local environmental groups that share their environmental goals of raising awareness and participating in the community.

They have supported Global Green by donating trees for their millennium event and supporting their annual pledge drive. By attending local green events, such as Earth Day events and environmental fairs, they support local green organizations such as VOICE (Volunteers and Organizations Improving the Community's Environment) in their mission to educate and increase awareness about the Earth's environment.

Possibly the Living Christmas Company's most important initiative is challenging the general public to re-evaluate their practices by offering a dynamic alternative to artificial and cut trees.

"This is not your grandmother's tree; this is your children's tree"

For a calendar update of nursery visits and opportunities to meet the "elves of the trees", check out the blog for The Living Christmas Co.