African Wetlands Project: A Win For the Climate and the People?

/by

Author: Winifred bird | Published: November 3, 2016

Standing calf-deep in the warm, brackish water of Senegal’s Saloum Delta, Saly Sarr points to a mass of ripples colored silver by the setting sun.
“You see that movement?” she says. “The fish are coming out.”

All around her, the spindly trunks of young mangrove trees poke through the water.

Seven years ago, this area on the edge of the island of Niodior was a sandy wasteland ravaged by drought. Today, thanks to reforestation work done by Sarr and other women, it is covered in mangroves that shelter young fish from the midday sun and hold the soil in place as the tides wash in and out.

The previous night, Sarr and her neighbor, Binta Bakhoum, sat on stools in a moonlit courtyard paved with seashells and explained why their small, mostly self-sufficient community of fishermen, farmers, and mollusk collectors planted the trees. “We did this to help ourselves and help the environment,” said Bakhoum, 66, who presided over the work. “The fish were becoming rare, and we live on fish, so things were very difficult. They’ve gotten a lot better since then.”

Local concerns aren’t the only reason this project has been launched, however. It also happened because of the urgent global need to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes do that better than almost anything else, and as a result, projects to restore them are starting to draw new attention from groups interested in mitigating climate change.

That’s what happened in Niodior. From 2008 to 2012, a group of ten European companies injected millions of dollars into mangrove reforestation work in several parts of Senegal. In exchange, the companies are receiving carbon credits that they can use to offset their own emissions, or sell to others looking to do the same. It’s a new and rapidly spreading approach to coastal conservation that proponents say brings triple benefits: reduced global warming, healthier coastal environments, and greater prosperity for the people who inhabit them.

But the model has also drawn criticism. Groups like the 10-million-strong World Forum of Fisher Peoples worry that if rich countries start focusing on the “blue carbon” in the developing world’s coastal ecosystems, the people who live in these ecosystems could end up losing access to crucial resources. That concern is very real in Niodior, where residents like Sarr and Bakhoum strongly oppose restrictions on cutting wood from the new mangrove plantations, and say they received scant pay for their work on the project.

Mangroves suck up about 10 times more carbon dioxide per acre per year than rainforests do.

The problems mirror what has happened in many poorly managed carbon forestry projects on land, casting doubt on the wisdom of extending the model to sea.

The international push to protect blue carbon started around 2009, when the United Nations published a report pointing out that coastal ecosystems capture and store carbon far more efficiently than their drier counterparts. Mangroves and coastal wetlands, for instance, suck up about 10 times more carbon dioxide per acre per year than rainforests do, and store three to five times as much over the long term, mostly in the soil that extends deep beneath their roots. They are also disappearing much faster than rainforests due to coastal development, pollution, aquaculture, and overuse. Globally, scientists estimate that up to half of all mangroves have been lost in the last 50 years. When the mangrove forests go, they release centuries or even millennia of stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

KEEP READING ON YALE ENVIRONMENT 360

Amazon Fishery Management Provides Rare ‘win-win’ Chance for Conservation and Poverty Alleviation

/by

Author: University of East Anglia | Published: October 20, 2016

Prof Carlos Peres from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Dr João Campos-Silva of Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil led the analysis into the population recovery of Arapaima gigas, the world’s largest scaled freshwater fish, which had been previously depleted.

Eight years of data were used to measure how population sizes varied between managed, protected oxbow lakes and open-access lakes. The study demonstrated a dramatic rebound in arapaima populations that had been previously overfished in lakes under community-based management, concluding that these management programmes are a clear ‘win-win’ conservation solution, compatible with the socioeconomic reality of Amazonian countries.

The study compares protected freshwater lakes along the Juruá River, a 3350-km long tributary of the Amazon, to ‘high-interest savings accounts’, vital for local food security. But efforts to protect these freshwater ecosystems are often hampered by conflicts with commercial fishing interests.

KEEP READING ON SCIENCE DAILY 

Carbon Sequestration Potential on Agricultural Lands: A Review of Current Science and Available Practices

/by

Author Daniel Kane: | Published: November 2015

Recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest that even if substantial reductions in anthropogenic carbon emissions are achieved in the near future, efforts to sequester previously emitted carbon will be necessary to ensure safe levels of atmospheric carbon and to mitigate climate change (Smith et al. 2014). Research on sequestration has focused primarily on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and reforestation with less attention to the role of soils as carbon sinks. Recent news reports of melting glaciers and ice sheets coupled with a decade of record-breaking heat underscores the importance of aggressive exploration of all possible sequestration strategies.

Soils have the potential to sequester carbon from the atmosphere with proper management. Based on global estimates of historic carbon stocks and projections of rising emissions, soil’s usefulness as a carbon sink and drawdown solution appear essential (Lal, 2004, 2008). Since over one third of arable land is in agriculture globally (World Bank, 2015a), finding ways to increase soil carbon in agricultural systems will be a major component of using soils as a sink. A number of agricultural management strategies appear to sequester soil carbon by increasing carbon inputs to the soil and enhancing various soil processes that protect carbon from microbial turnover. Uncertainties about the extent and permanence of carbon sequestration in these systems do still remain, but existing evidence is sufficient to warrant a greater global focus on agricultural soils as a potential climate stability wedge and drawdown solution. Furthermore, the ancillary benefits of increasing soil carbon, including improvements to soil structure, fertility, and water-holding capacity, outweigh potential costs. In this paper, we’ll discuss the basics of soil carbon, how it can be sequestered, management strategies that appear to show promise, and the debate about the potential of agricultural soils to be a climate stability wedge.

KEEP READING ON NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE COALITION

The Fight Against Deforestation: Why Are Congolese Farmers Clearing Forest?

/by

Author: KU Leuven | Published: October 21, 2016

Only a small share of Congolese villagers is the driving force behind most of the deforestation. They’re not felling trees to feed their families, but to increase their quality of life. These findings are based on fieldwork by bioscience engineer Pieter Moonen from KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium. They indicate that international programmes aiming to slow down tropical deforestation are not sufficiently taking local farmers into account.

Forests, and especially centuries-old primeval forests such as in the Congo Basin in Africa, are huge CO2 reservoirs. When trees are cut down, large amounts of greenhouse gases are released. This contributes to climate change — both regional and global.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in the world’s top five in terms of amount of deforested land per year. According to the government, this is mostly due to subsistence farming and population growth. The argument is that small farmers grow crops to feed their own families. As there is a rise in population, farmers have to keep on clearing forest to increase the area under cultivation.

Bioscience engineer Pieter Moonen is preparing a PhD on land use and climate change in the DRC. He examined whether subsistence farming really is the main culprit for deforestation. For a year, he did fieldwork in 27 Congolese villages and questioned 270 households in a survey about agriculture and deforestation.

KEEP READING ON SCIENCE DAILY 

Prince Charles Joins Clean Soil Project to Combat Climate Change

/by

Author: Fiona Harvey | Published: October 28, 2016

Prince Charles urged governments, individuals and businesses to take greater care of the world’s soils as part of an initiative aimed at keeping carbon locked in soil, rather than escaping into the atmosphere and causing global warming.

The “4 per 1000” project is a pledge to reduce the amount of carbon leaked from soils by 0.4% a year, which would be enough to halt the rise of carbon dioxide levels in the air. Nearly 180 countries have signed up to the initiative that was set up by the French government as part of its efforts to make the Paris agreement on climate change, signed last year, a success.

At a ceremony this week to celebrate the initiative, the prince said that the preservation of farmland, forests and soils were of “absolutely critical importance – for, in my experience, the fertility and health of the soil is at the heart of everything”. Drawing on his own work as an organic farmer, he contrasted organic methods with the “previously conventional” farming systems which he called “toxic”.

The 4 per 1000 initiative does not require farmers to adopt organic methods, but does encourage more attention to farming techniques, which are currently contributing to the erosion of soils around the world.

KEEP READING ON THE GUARDIAN 

Cop 22 – Briefing by Stephane Le Foll French Minister of Agriculture

/by

Authors: Ruby Bird & Yasmina Beddou | Published: Oct 21, 2016

On October 21, 2016 was held an informal Briefing with some journalists to explain and pursue the French Plan toward MARRAKECH (Morocco) for the COP 22 on 7-18 November 2016. It will be the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties. One of the crucial issues debated was the Launch of the 4 per 1000 initiative by France on Tuesday 1st December 2015 during COP 21. Stéphane Le Foll, French Minister for Agriculture, AgriFood and Forestry; the Australian, German, New Zealand and Uruguayan Ministers for Agriculture; Graziano da Silva, General Secretary of the FAO and M. Mayaki, General Secretary of NEPAD were in attendance.
The 4 per 1000 initiative aims to generate growth in the rate of soil carbon in the form of organic matter of 0.4% per year in the coming decades. This rate of growth would make it possible to compensate for anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. It would concern agricultural soils (growth objective of 1.4 Gt of carbon per year), forests (1.3 Gt per year) and soils affected by salinization or desertification (0.5 to 1.4 Gt per year).
Growth in the organic matter of soils would make it possible to improve the resilience of agriculture and its adaptation to climate change (less sensitivity to erosion, improvement of water retention capacity, etc.), agricultural yield and, in fine, food safety.
Approximately thirty countries signed the initiative, including the majority of European Union countries, Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopa, Indonesia, Mexico, Niger, New Zealand, Turkey and Uruguay. As did ECOWAS, various research centres (including INRA, IRD and CIRAD) and various non-governmental organisations, foundations and agricultural organisations.
KEEP READING ON UNITED STATES PRESS AGENCY

How Regenerative Farming Methods Can Restore Ecology and Rebuild Communities

/by

Author:Dr. Joseph Mercola  | Published: October 29, 2016

In Peter Byck’s lovely short film, “One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts,” Will Harris shares the story of how he went from being a conventional “commodity cowboy” to a regenerative farming pioneer. Today, Harris’ farm, White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, produces high-quality grass-fed products.

But while beef and other animal products are the commodities being sold to the public, what Harris is really producing is healthy soil, and the success of his farm is a great demonstration of how you can accomplish the conversion from conventional to regenerative agriculture.

From 1946 — when his father was still running the farm — to 1995, the farm used industrial farming methods and chemicals. Harris had just one focus: how many pounds of beef he could produce at the lowest price possible.

Today, such concerns no longer occupy his mind. Instead, he’s wholly absorbed in figuring out how he can make the land thrive even more. Instead of feeding cattle, he now says his business is built around feeding microbes in the soil — all those crucial microorganisms that in turn make the soil fertile.

Because while the fertilizer they laid down each year helped the crops grow, what they did not realize was the damage being done underground.

Synthetic fertilizers actually harm the microorganisms in the soil, without which soil degradation sets in, nutrition (both in the soil and the food) goes down and, ultimately, the entire ecosystem begins to suffer.

Slow Start, Big Finish

As time went on, despite always turning a profit, Harris became increasingly disenchanted with the way his farm was progressing, looking and feeling ever more like a factory than a farm. When he heard people were looking for grass-fed beef, he saw an opportunity to make some changes.

He began by giving up feeding his animals corn, subtherapeutic antibiotics and hormone implants. Initially, that’s as far as he had intended to go.

But in time he realized that “using chemical fertilizers on pastures was as wrong as using hormone implants and subtherapeutic antibiotics,” he says. The transition was by no means an easy one.

He went from being debt-free to taking out $7.5 million in loans to build the processing facilities he needed — an operation that lost money each and every year to boot. There were dark times, when he didn’t know whether he might lose the farm that had been in the family for more than 130 years.

“We took incredible risks,” he admits. “Today I’m very glad I made the changes that I made, because the farm is again profitable; cash flow positive, and two of my daughters and their spouses have come back to work on the farm. At least that last part would not have happened in the earlier scenario.”

KEEP READING ON MERCOLA.COM 

Join Regeneration International in Marrakech for COP22

/by

The COP22 Climate Summit will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on November 7-18, 2016. The Regeneration International Network has organized a series of events that will focus on the role of soil, agriculture and land-use practices in reversing global warming.

Why regenerative farming and land use?

After spending decades focused solely on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate activists and the UNFCCC now recognize the need to also include large-scale carbon sequestration in the strategy to reverse global warming.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “a large fraction of anthropogenic climate change resulting from CO2 emissions is irreversible on a multi-century-to-millennial time scale, except in the case of a large net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere over a sustained period.” Simply put, even if we cut all human-induced GHG emissions today, the globe would continue to warm for decades, even centuries to come. Recently the scientific community identified soil carbon restoration using regenerative agriculture and land use practices as one of the safest and most effective means of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Fortunately, millions of farmers around the globe are ready to implement regenerative agriculture and land use practices. We must act now to unleash the power of regenerative farmers to cool the planet and feed the world through soil carbon restoration.

“If rapid phase down of fossil fuel emissions begins soon, most of the necessary CO2 extraction can take place via improved agricultural land forestry practices, including reforestation and steps to improve soil fertility and increase its carbon content,” – James Hansen

Soils are also the largest terrestrial carbon sink on the planet. But soils around the globe have lost 50 to 75 percent of their original carbon content, largely due to the destructive practices of humans. With support from international bodies and conscious consumers, farmers around the globe can put an end to the release of agricultural GHG emissions, and turn their farms into carbon sinks capable of removing enough CO2 from the atmosphere to reverse global warming and repair the damage inflicted in ecosystems and the environment by degenerative food systems.

Regeneration International at COP22

Here are the side events RI has organized for COP22.

Women for Climate Justice Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change
Date: November 16, 2016 16:45 – 18:15
Location: Bering Room, COP22 Blue Zone

Can Consumers Drive the Transition to Climate-friendly Regenerative Beef, Poultry & Dairy Production?
Date: November 17, 2016 15h00  – 16h30
Location: Salle 7, Green Zone at COP22

Re-framing Food and Agriculture: From Degeneration to Regeneration
Date: November 18 13h00 – 14h30
Location: Salle 2, Green Zone at COP22

Follow our COP22 page for events as well as news related to agriculture and the 4 per 1000 Initiative.

– The RI Team

Women for Climate Justice Leading Solutions on the Frontlines of Climate Change

Date: November 16, 2016 16:45 – 18:15
Location: Bering Room, COP22 Blue Zone, Side Event area
Remote participation: If you cannot make it to the event, it will be broadcast by the UNFCCC Climate Change Studio Youtube Channel, be sure to tune in!

We will hear from grassroots and Indigenous women leaders addressing climate solutions from a climate justice framework including forest and biodiversity protection, just transition to 100 percent renewable energy, agro-ecology implementation and rights of nature.

Speakers:

  • Thilmeeza Hussain – Voice of Women Maldives, Climate Wise Women
  • Neema Namadamu – SAFECO; Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Amina El Hajjamc – Tamazight Representative of the High Atlas Foundation
  • Blanca Chancosa – Abya Yala Women Messengers, Otavalo, Ecuador
  • Cecilia Flores – Abya Yala Women Messengers, Aymara, Chile
  • Osprey Orielle Lake – Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network
  • Precious Phiri – Earthwisdom; Regeneration International, Zimbabwe

Accreditation to enter COP 22 venue is required to attend.
No registration is necessary but seating is limited.

Can Consumers Drive the Transition to Climate-friendly Regenerative Beef, Poultry & Dairy Production?

Date: November 17, 2016 15h00  – 16h30
Location: Salle 7, Green Zone at COP22

As the global population grows, consumers will need to reduce their consumption of livestock and dairy products if we are to avoid runaway climate change. But we also must move towards regenerative models for producing adequate amounts of meat, eggs and dairy products that provide optimum nutrition, while also producing fewer emissions and less pollutions, while rebuilding healthy soils capable of drawing down excess carbon.

Agenda:

15.00 – 15.15: Are some animals more equal than others? An overview of the global impacts of animal agriculture, Richard Young, Sustainable Food Trust

15.00 – 16.30 : Panel discussion for identifying potential global consumer campaigns aimed at (1) educating consumers about the impact of factory farm products and regenerative alternatives; (2) promoting and increasing demand for regenerative meat, egg and dairy products; (3) facilitating an increase in global supply of regenerative meat, egg and dairy products. Followed by Q&A.

  • Alexis Baden-Mayer, Organic Consumers Association, USA
  • Andre Leu, IFOAM Organics International, Australia
  • Mercedes Lopez Martinez, Vía Orgánica and Asociación de Consumidores Orgánicos, México
  • Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, Main Street Project, Guatemala/USA

Moderator: Katherine Paul, Regeneration International, USA

This event is free and open to the public.
Please RSVP on Facebook.

Re-framing Food and Agriculture: From Degeneration to Regeneration

Date: November 18 13h00 – 14h30
Location: Salle 2, Green Zone at COP22

Could the solution to the climate crisis as well as poverty and deteriorating public health be right under our feet, and at the end of our knives and forks?

Come join a dynamic and engaging conversation with leading voices in sustainable agriculture and food initiatives from around the globe. Together, we’ll explore how regenerative food, farming and land use can cool the planet and feed the world. This is the beginning of a movement. We encourage you to show up as collaborators ready to learn and share ideas, and leave as a part of the regenerative solution.

You’ll get to hear from and speak with:

  • Andre Leu, IFOAM Organics International, Australia
  • Murielle Trouillet, 4p1000 Initiative, French Ministry of Agriculture, France
  • Abdellah Boudhira, Regenerative Farmer, Morocco
  • Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Natural Agriculture Development Program, Zambia
  • Konrad Meyer, Biovision Foundation, Switzerland
  • John D Liu, Environmental Education Media Project, USA/China

Moderator: Ercilia Sahores, Regeneration International, Argentina

This event is free and open to the public.
Please RSVP on Facebook.