Key Factor 12: Support for the Carbon Coalition’s Submission

SENIOR GOVERNMENT SOIL SCIENTIST

“I support to the activities of the Carbon Coalition such as holding forums where the scientists and farmers and carbon traders get together. I think the advantage of the Coalition from my perpective is that it has helped open the lines of communication between the farming, science, and trading communities. This has cleared up many misunderstandings that were originally present. I think it is a great initiative.”

Dr Brian Murphy
Senior Natural Resource Officer
NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
PO Box 445, Cowra NSW, Australia 2794

*Dr Brian Murphy is a senior soil scientist and has wide experience in soil mapping and soil classification and in research and advisory roles on the effectives of land management on soils. He was a lead author of reports published by the Australian Greenhouse Office as part of the National Carbon Accounting Scheme.



AUTHOR AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST

"The Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming has impressed me with its expertise, commitment and energy in pursuit of the goal of soil carbon trading. As the co-founder of Climate Change Coalition and a candidate for election to Australia's Senate, I chose the Carbon Coalition as an important source of policy on agriculture. As a grazier and olive grower, I am currently practicing what the Coalition calls "Carbon Farming" and I believe that soil C credits could be the catalyst for the rapid uptake of progressive land management practices among normally conservative farmers."

Patrice Newell is the author of three books, The Olive Grove, the River, Ten Thousand Acres. A founding member of the Hunter Valley Olive Growers' Association, president of The Upper Hunter Waterkeeper's Alliance, a certified biodynamic beef producer, and a well-known campaigner for sustainability.

Patrice Newell
Elmswood, Gundy NSW 2337
Farm: 02 6545 8192 Mobile: 0417 231822
email: patricenewell@ozemail.com.au





INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS OF COALITION

"The Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming have demonstrated leadership and vision in the field of soil carbon sequestration. Their tireless work in advancing the practice and promotion of carbon capture in soils is widely recognized in the United States. We look to a future in which government, business and the CarbonFarmers of the World have fully cooperated in restoring agricultural productivity, rural prosperity, clean water supply and climatic stability. This future is closer than many know, and the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming is playing a pivotal leadership role in taking us all there. Carbon Farmers of America is proud to be a member of the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming."

Abe Collins,
Co-Founder,
Carbon Farmers of America

*Abe Collins is a pioneer educator and thinker in the field of regenerative agriculture. He is a Co-Founder of Carbon Farmers of America, a rapidly growing farmer-owned soil carbon aggregator.



GLOBAL LEADER IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

“I endorse the work of the Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming because these farmers and ranchers address the root cause of Australia's degraded grasslands currently contributing to global climate change. Restoring grasslands to health, through Holistic Management, changes grassland soils from net emitters of carbon to the role of vast carbon storehouse they formerly played. A safe and natural role and place for permanent carbon storage. Because the fate of both carbon and water in the soil are tied to soil organic matter, reversing grassland degradation also restores healthy water cycle functioning which in turn decreases both drought and flood frequency and severity – something Australia sorely needs. The Coalition’s leadership team all have Holistic Management training and practical experience that is already demonstrating the power of determined people managing holistically to reverse land degradation (desertification) which is vital to the future of Australia and global civilization. I encourage the government of Australia to look towards a new paradigm in grazing land management to reverse the results of past mistakes and chart a new future for our depleted natural resource base.


Allan Savory
Founder Holistic Management International
Albuquerque, New Mexico
www.holisticmanagement.org
Chairman and Founder
Africa Centre for Holistic Management
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

*Allan Savory is a wildlife biologist and founding director of Holistic Management International in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also the founder and Chairman of the Africa Centre for Holistic Management, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe-born scientist has won international acclaim for his innovative methods to reverse desertification, now being used successfully around the world. In 2003 he received the Australian Banksia International Award for the person or organization doing the most for the environment on a global scale. Allan’s book, Holistic Management: A New Framework for Decision Making, Island Press 1999, is today in use in a number of colleges and universities and the governments of both the U.S. and Mexico have trained Holistic Management extension personnel.


GLOBAL LEADER AND SOIL TECHNOLOGY PIONEER

BEST Energies would like to support your submission to the Garnaut Review as we feel that soil carbon sequestration must play a role if the global population is going to meet the greenhouse challenge. The huge potential of agricultural soils to sequester carbon on a climate changing scale can not be ignored and frameworks for facilitating new management practices need immediate implementation.

We are encouraged by the many ‘Carbon Farmers’ you are associated with whose commitment to achieving climate change mitigation along with agricultural sustainability goals is commendable. We believe that innovative land management practices offer a solution that is here and now and in working with the natural carbon cycle are a low risk sequestration option.

The most promising aspect of increasing soil carbon levels is that it can sequester carbon whilst adding value down the chain. Farmers are motivated to put carbon back into their soils as they realise the associated improvements in soil health results in increased productivity and hence sustainability for their operations. A win-win situation.

We thank you for your tireless efforts in promoting this cause, and wish you every success in increasing soil carbon levels.
Regards,


Robert Downie
Managing Director
Best Energies*

*Best Energies is Australia’s pioneer of biochar technologies, currently engaged in trials of this promising soil ameliorant technology. “I think this is one of the most exciting and important new technologies out there, in terms of stabilising our climate” Prof. Tim Flannery
On Pyrolysis and Agrichar production. May 2007



CORPORATE LEADER, AGRICULTURALIST AND DECISION MAKING EXPERT

As Asia Pacific's largest manager of commercial real-estate, we and our clients have benefited from the innovative solutions and practical advice that the Carbon Coalition has been able to propose. Buildings in Asia account for upwards of 40% of all greenhouse emissions. Carbon trading, and in particular soil trading, offers Australia a unique opportunity to not only be part of the solution, but to also positively influence farming practice and agricultural sustainability. I support the Carbon Coalition’s initiatives in respect of soil trading. We are already working with building owners all over Asia to design and operate more sustainable buildings and I look forward to a timely introduction of soil trading, a new resource that our clients can utilize to help them do their part in turning around the major issue facing the world today.

Peter Barge
CEO Jones Lang LaSalle Asia Pacific
14,000 staff, 72 offices.

*Peter Barge has a unique perspective: as CEO of the largest property agency in Asia Pacific he is privy to the strategic planning concerns of corporate leaders throughout the region. As a hands-on farmer, he has a deep understanding of climate issues. Peter is an innovator, both in the city and the country. And as author of “The Little Book of Big Decisions”, he also understands the powerful way that the ‘framing’ of a question can determine the outcome of decision-making processes.