VENEARTH

If all the excess carbon accumulated in the atmosphere over the last century were spread uniformly over the earth's farmed land and cultivated forests, it would amount to a layer only about a tenth of an inch thick at the density of sandy soil. Deep, fertile "terra preta" soils on the banks of the Amazon provide abundant evidence of sustainable agricultural methods that successfully enriched carbon in topsoils for thousands of years. Updated versions of these methods are based on biochar, a form of charcoal made from biomass that would otherwise burn or rot. Biochar in soil helps retain moisture and nutrients, and creates resilient, healthier plants. The above video, narrated by VenEarth partner Jerry Harrison, explains the history and promise of biochar.

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