Description of Challenge
Restore the atmosphere to median Holocene levels of greenhouse gas concentrations (~240 ppmv CO2e) within a short time frame (mid-Century), thereby preventing forfeiture of civilizational gains since previous glaciation and potential near-term human extinction. Restore virtuous cycle of soil improvement to adapt to food and water requirements during humanity's hopefully brief dalliance with Anthropocene climateSolution
Keyline management restores fertility to crop, forest and pasture lands and to steeper and rougher terrains that have never before been capable of rapid improvement. The first aim of Keyline is to provide inexpensive means of conserving and tempering the rain that falls on the land by storing it in the soil, then slowing its evaporation and apply this conserved moisture to assist nutrient transfer and regenerate favorable soil microbiology over large areas. First conceived by Australian stockman P.A. Yeomans, Keyline follows a method of land subdivision and layout based on scales of permanence; planning for timber, alley cropping and cell grazing, ponds and irrigation. When combined with biochar, remineralization and compost teas it accelerates transfer of greenhouse gases from atmosphere and ocean stores to long-term terrestrial sequestration. As a soil carbon management system. key line can deliver tradable C emissions reduction, and the C sequestered can be accounted for.
