 Soil4Climate Facebook Group Membership Hits 10k
Interest in Healthy Soils Grows Worldwide December 18, 2018 - THETFORD, Vermont - Soil4Climate, a U.S.-based nonprofit, nongovernmental organization advocating for soil restoration as a climate solution, today announced membership in its Facebook group has reached 10,000, with members hailing from over 100 countries. Founded in 2015, Soil4Climate’s mission is to expand the narrative of climate mitigation to include nature-based agricultural practices such as conservation cropping and regenerative grazing. Commenting on this milestone, Soil4Climate cofounder Seth Itzkan stated, “Changing the way we grow plants and graze livestock provides a proven way to draw down carbon into soil that can be readily implemented on every farm and ranch worldwide.” He added, “It’s imperative for producers, consumers, legislators, climate activists, and society in general to understand that the restoration of degraded soil offers enormous potential. Land managers worldwide have a pivotal role to play in putting every available acre into climate service for humanity.” The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C made clear that reducing fossil fuel emissions must be accompanied by carbon drawdown. Sequestering carbon in soil reduces the risk of increased warming posed by excess carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulated in the atmosphere as a result of coal, oil, and natural gas combustion during the industrial era, as well as through deforestation, plowing, burning to clear land, and mismanaged grazing over the course of many centuries. “While every sector of the economy needs to reduce the use of fossil fuels, agriculture is uniquely positioned to completely eliminate its carbon footprint. Better farming and ranching can remove a vast amount of CO2 from the air and, over time, lower the atmospheric CO2 concentration to a safe level,” said Soil4Climate cofounder Karl Thidemann. “At present, approximately 300 billion tonnes of carbon must be removed from the air. Published, peer-reviewed science suggests regenerative agriculture in tandem with reforestation could sequester on the order of 5 billion tonnes of atmospheric carbon annually,” he continued. Among Soil4Climate’s accomplishments thus far are policy briefs co-written with researchers and faculty at the Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute, articles co-authored with 350.org-cofounder Bill McKibben on the need for soil carbon drawdown, the promotion of “healthy soil” legislation in Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and other states throughout the country, and partnering on a land restoration demonstration project with a traditional herding community in Kenya. Praise for Soil4Climate’s rapidly growing global network of scientists, farmers, policymakers, journalists, environmental activists, and others who routinely share and discuss the latest research and practices involving carbon farming, has been received from enthusiasts around the world. Dalmas Tiampati, executive director of the the Maasai Center for Regenerative Pastoralism (MCRP), a partner of Soil4Climate, expressed his congratulations and gratitude to “… all the Soil4Climate members who enabled us to reach this great milestone. By advocating for soil as a climate solution, Soil4Climate continues to bring healing to soil, the source of all life. With continued support from Soil4Climate, MCRP has been able to champion and implement regenerative grazing practices to improve the lives and strengthen the communities of the Maasai people of Kenya.” Allan Savory, originator of Holistic Planned Grazing, an approach that ensures beneficial grazing impact to soil and grass even in low-rainfall regions, noted, “Soil4Climate is contributing greatly to promoting public awareness about the urgent need for a new, regenerative agriculture based on a foundation of good science and healthy living soils. By developing such agriculture - managed holistically - we address the present reductionist management that is causing global desertification and contributing to climate instability. Only by transforming management, so that all relevant social, economic, and environmental factors are included in the decision-making process, can we ensure the best prevailing practices do indeed build the foundation of fertile soil required by all life. Healthy living soil, the safest haven for sequestered carbon and the greatest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, offers hope to future generations.” Dalmas Tiampati and Allan Savory serve on Soil4Climate’s Advisory Board. Soil4Climate promotes regenerative cropping and grazing practices to improve soil fertility, increase the bionutrient density of food, reduce flooding, replenish dried-up lakes and rivers, revitalize farming and pastoral communities, and lessen international conflict while sequestering atmospheric carbon. As well, we stand in solidarity with the valiant efforts of climate advocates working for emissions reductions and renewable energy. Join the 10,000+ members of Soil4Climate at facebook.com/groups/Soil4Climate. ### Media contact: Karl Thidemann Soil4Climate karl.thidemann@gmail.com IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ Hope Below Our Feet: Soil As a Climate Solution http://www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/Pubs/climate/ClimatePolicyBrief4.pdf Using Soil to Fight Climate Change Seth Itzkan, Karl Thidemann, and Bill McKibben http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/using-soil-to-fight-climate-change/
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