ConfrontingConfrontingClimate ChangeClimate Change

a DEFINItiona DEFINItion

1. 1. Soil TestsSoil Tests

3. 3. BiocharsBiochars

4. 4. CompostsComposts

5. 5. InoculantsInoculants

2. 2. Mineral RatiosMineral Ratios

6. 6. Cover CropsCover Crops

7. 7. RotationsRotations

8. 8. MarketingMarketing

annual increase in measured carbon, up tp 9%annual increase in measured carbon, up tp 9%

fertility program to adjust element levelsfertility program to adjust element levels

minimum annual application: initial 500 lbs./acreminimum annual application: initial 500 lbs./acre

soil digestive system & feeding programsoil digestive system & feeding program

microbial inoculation & feeding programmicrobial inoculation & feeding program

continuous ground cover & minimum tillagecontinuous ground cover & minimum tillage

long-term, rapid rotations of crops & livestocklong-term, rapid rotations of crops & livestock

Low carbon, eco-local distributionLow carbon, eco-local distribution

BiocharBiochar

OxisolOxisolpredominant Amazon soilspredominant Amazon soils

acidicacidicvery low carbonvery low carbon

poor nutrient capacitypoor nutrient capacityvery low productivityvery low productivitynotoriously infertilenotoriously infertile

Local farmers prize Local farmers prize Terra Terra PretaPreta

Terra PretaTerra Preta

non-Terra Pretanon-Terra Pretaadjacentadjacent

3X greater yields than adjacent soils3X greater yields than adjacent soilssustained fertility in intensive usesustained fertility in intensive usedug up and sold as potting soildug up and sold as potting soil

Small PatchesSmall Patchesaverage: 20 hectares (50 acres)average: 20 hectares (50 acres)up to 350 hectares (865 acres)up to 350 hectares (865 acres)near settlements & on bluffsnear settlements & on bluffscultural debris, animal bones, pot sherdscultural debris, animal bones, pot sherdslarge amount of charred carbonlarge amount of charred carbon

AgeAge300 to 500 years300 to 500 years800 - 4000 years800 - 4000 years6000 years6000 years, east Andes foothills, east Andes foothillsRadio-carbon dating (charcoal)Radio-carbon dating (charcoal)

Aerial SurveysAerial SurveysRecent canopy-penetrating radarRecent canopy-penetrating radar10% of total land area10% of total land areaarable land to feed 5 millionarable land to feed 5 million

BiocharBiocharAmazon Basin, BrazilAmazon Basin, Brazil

Climate ChangeClimate ChangeConfrontingConfronting

arable land to feed 25 millionarable land to feed 25 million

Amazon Basin, BrazilAmazon Basin, Brazil

High CarbonHigh Carbonup to 9% up to 9% (versus .5% in other soils)(versus .5% in other soils)

sometimes over 20%sometimes over 20%two to six feet deeptwo to six feet deepmost carbon is charcoalmost carbon is charcoal

High NutrientsHigh NutrientsHigh Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)High Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)

Calcium (+)Calcium (+)High Anion Exchange Capacity (AEC)High Anion Exchange Capacity (AEC)

Phosphorus (-)Phosphorus (-)Nitrogen (+ / -)Nitrogen (+ / -)

High Microbial ActivityHigh Microbial Activity““Microbial ReefMicrobial Reef””Very active Very active Soil Food WebSoil Food WebHigh diversity, high stabilityHigh diversity, high stabilityFree-living, Nitrogen-fixing bacteriaFree-living, Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

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Pacific Coast, PeruPacific Coast, Peru

How did Amazon natives create How did Amazon natives create these remarkable soils?these remarkable soils?

How do these soils sustain their How do these soils sustain their fertility for centuries?fertility for centuries?

Can we learn how to sustain soil Can we learn how to sustain soil fertility today?fertility today?

Can these tropical soils help Can these tropical soils help improve temperate soils?improve temperate soils?

Can this sequester carbon to Can this sequester carbon to reverse global warming?reverse global warming?

Amazon Basin, BrazilAmazon Basin, Brazil

Climate ChangeClimate ChangeConfrontingConfronting

heavy Amazon clayheavy Amazon clay

Robert WellsRobert WellsOrganic FarmerOrganic Farmer

Orleans, Cape Cod, MassachusettsOrleans, Cape Cod, Massachusettsbeach & glacial sandbeach & glacial sand

Any strategyAny strategyto increase arable land,to increase arable land,

or improve yieldsor improve yieldson existing arable land,on existing arable land,

should be a research priority.should be a research priority.

Amazon Basin, BrazilAmazon Basin, Brazil

Climate ChangeClimate ChangeConfrontingConfronting

The Columbian Encounter and the Little Ice Age:The Columbian Encounter and the Little Ice Age: Abrupt Land Use Change, Fire, and Greenhouse ForcingAbrupt Land Use Change, Fire, and Greenhouse Forcing

Annals of the Association of American GeographersAnnals of the Association of American Geographers Vol. 100 # 4Vol. 100 # 4 2010 Special Issue: 2010 Special Issue: Climate ChangeClimate Change

Pre-Columbian farmers of the Amazon were estimated 25 million, with 80% living within forest.

Amazonian Collapse & Europe’s Little Ice AgeAmazonian Collapse & Europe’s Little Ice Age

Amazon Basin, BrazilAmazon Basin, Brazil

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Significant Amazon forests were cleared and burned for agriculture before European arrival.Population pressure on forest increased steadily, peaking with European in arrival late 1600s.

Documented by Antarctic ice cores from 1500 to 1750—previously attributed only to decreased solar irradiance and increased volcanism.

Introduction of Old World diseases led to epidemics and unprecedented population crash.

Fire history throughout the lowlands, new high-resolution charcoal records, and population estimates support the idea that the Amazon went from net CO2 source to a CO2 decrease.

Post-Columbian carbon sequestration was significant to cause Europe’s Little Ice Age cooling.

Rapid population collapse was complete by 1650, with 95% of indigenous inhabitants dead.

Global Climate NegotiationsGlobal Climate NegotiationsIn Copenhagen, In Copenhagen, at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the President of Micronesia the President of Micronesia called for a called for a Pre-industrial COPre-industrial CO22 Target Target, , and large-scale investment in and large-scale investment in BiocharBiochar and methods to put and methods to put CarbonCarbon in soils. in soils.

No one can change the pastNo one can change the past

Thomas J. Goreau, PhDThomas J. Goreau, PhD

No other country responded. No other country responded.

President, Global Coral Reef AlliancePresident, Global Coral Reef AlliancePresident, Biorock International Corp.President, Biorock International Corp.Coordinator, UN Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentCoordinator, UN Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentRepresentative, Small Island Developing States PartnershipRepresentative, Small Island Developing States Partnership37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 0213937 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

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, everyone can change the future, everyone can change the future