Land Reclamation and Restoration

Location

Logan, UT

Event Website

http://restoringthewest.org/

Streaming Media

Abstract

Soil is a vital and undervalued asset. The world is losing soil 10 to 20 times faster than it is replenishing it. At the same time, population is growing exponentially – 9.3 billion by 2050, according to UN projections. Areas of the world – particularly northern China, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Australia – are already losing large tracts of arable land. Peak soil may ultimately offer greater challenges to society than peak oil (www.energybulletin.net/52788).

Even in situations where soils are regarded as fertile and productive, it has been shown that managing soil quality can lead to significant increase in farm profits (www.keysoil.com). Biochar offers significant opportunity in reclaiming degraded land and increasing the performance of existing cropland, and in the conversion of land to agriculture and other beneficial uses. This presentation will summarize opportunities for biochar with a focus on prospects for "Restoring the West".

Comments

David F. Shearer presenting for John Gaunt, Director, Keysoil, Ltd. ( jgaunt@fcsolns.com)

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Oct 19th, 12:00 AM

Land Reclamation and Restoration

Logan, UT

Soil is a vital and undervalued asset. The world is losing soil 10 to 20 times faster than it is replenishing it. At the same time, population is growing exponentially – 9.3 billion by 2050, according to UN projections. Areas of the world – particularly northern China, sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Australia – are already losing large tracts of arable land. Peak soil may ultimately offer greater challenges to society than peak oil (www.energybulletin.net/52788).

Even in situations where soils are regarded as fertile and productive, it has been shown that managing soil quality can lead to significant increase in farm profits (www.keysoil.com). Biochar offers significant opportunity in reclaiming degraded land and increasing the performance of existing cropland, and in the conversion of land to agriculture and other beneficial uses. This presentation will summarize opportunities for biochar with a focus on prospects for "Restoring the West".

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/rtw/2011/Breakout5/2