Pages tagged "Agriculture & Land"
Aymeric Maudous | Founder and Director at Lord of the Trees
Aymeric is Founder and Director at Lord of the Trees, a global project that's working to grow new ecosystems in deforested areas worldwide. Aymeric shared how new technology presents exciting opportunities for planting trees and restoring degraded landscapes, "one of the biggest and cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis".
Read about Aymeric's story here.
Can you tell us about Lord of the Trees?
Lord of the Trees is a global reforestation project that combines precision drone technology with the knowledge of environmental experts, scientists, engineers, and indigenous communities to replant seeds and grow new ecosystems in deforested areas worldwide. We aim to give nature the ultimate helping hand rewilding and encourage the return of pollinators, insects, birds, and animals to disturbed environments through our proprietary Seedpod technology and precision-companion planting using drones.
Why is Lord of the Trees taking climate action?
Can you tell us about your commitments to climate action?
The UN’s Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was endorsed at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020 in recognition of the urgent need to address the effects of climate change. This initiative resonates equally with our mission to help restore ecosystems while addressing climate change challenges.
Loss of native vegetation and fragmentation of habitats are major threats to ecological communities. As natural vegetation is removed and becomes increasingly fragmented, the diversity of plants and animals is reduced. The decline in animal and plant species affects the natural dynamics of ecosystems. It is important that the biological diversity of ecosystems is maintained to ensure the survival of all living organisms.
Our work isn't just about planting trees. We deliver bespoke solutions for every project, taking into account terrain, soil composition, wildlife, and surrounding ecosystems. Consulting with indigenous communities and local forestry experts helps us formulate the optimum combination of trees, bushes, and other flora to create the healthiest possible forests that will thrive for decades to come.
Lord of the Trees also builds wildlife corridors of native wildflowers and small shrubs around agricultural land, along major transport corridors, and through forests. These enhance biodiversity and help pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds reclaim their former habitats as well as allowing species that are on the brink of being endangered to build up their numbers.
Is there a project you are working on that you are excited about?
We are currently working on projects to rehabilitate a native forest area after previous pine plantation activity in Tasmania, mangrove rehabilitation in both New South Wales and South Australia. We are most excited about working on projects of restoration after bushfires in both Australia and overseas.
What real-world opportunities have you uncovered from taking climate action today?
Corporations are becoming more and more conscious of the need to nurture their Environmental, Social, and Corporate governance. As such, corporations and countries alike are incentivized to plant trees in order to earn carbon credits to offset their emissions.
In practice, this makes reforestation an even more attractive proposition in terms of cost/benefit analysis.
Our reforestation practices will support the role of land in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.Our innovative solution in this sector will significantly improve carbon sink into forests allowing us to withstand climate impacts.
Rehabilitation of our coastal wetlands such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses are known as ‘Blue Carbon’ ecosystems are also of the utmost environmental importance as they absorb three to five times more CO2 than regular forests while largely contributing to ocean health.
Lord of the Trees will apply for Gold Standard certification for all of its projects, which would mean we are approved by the Gold Standard Foundation enabling our customers to claim carbon credits for the work we do.
Consequently, our ventures will lead to a tangible reduction in greenhouse gasses as well as making a positive contribution to economic, environmental, and social welfare.
What climate action would you like to see Australia take?
More protection for our trees, forests, and our oceans! Alignment with many other countries committing to a net-zero emissions target by 2050 along with a more solid transition to renewable energy sources.
Jennifer West | Founder of Carbon West
As the founder of Carbon West, Jennifer believes that "carbon sequestration projects could assist farmers in improving the way they farm, and opening their eyes to the many benefits of working with, rather than against, nature." In our interview, Jennifer shares that her work in agriculture and research into soil carbon sequestration has helped her conclude that taking climate action is "a move towards better agriculture."
Read more from our interview with Jennifer below.
What is Carbon West?
Carbon West is a carbon industry consulting firm focused on promoting climate-friendly carbon development options to landholders. Based in Perth, company founder Jennifer West identified the carbon industry as a means of speeding up the pace of adoption of regenerative farming and the restoration of agricultural soil health. Carbon West now provides advice and services to business, farmers and other organisations around the carbon industry (with a particular focus on soil carbon).
Why is Carbon West taking climate action?
For the many benefits that soil carbon increases bring about in terms of agricultural productivity, food quality, sequestering atmospheric carbon, land restoration, regional communities development, farming viability, mental health of farmers and the overall wellbeing of natural ecosystems.
The relatively new carbon industry has the potential to drive ‘whole of landscape’ changes. Carbon West aims to help facilitate the adoption of carbon farming for financial, social and environmental gains.
How is Carbon West taking climate action?
I am passionate about helping people engage in the carbon industry. In my heart, I am a farmer and a nature-lover. I loved being a sheep farmer in the south-west of Western Australia, but began questioning the high-input, ecologically damaging farming systems which have developed over the past 60 years or so. I am often in awe of natural systems’ power, so started a journey of learning about how farming and natural systems could work together rather than continuing a damaging, costly fight against each other.
I want to bring about change which results in better agriculture. I believe carbon sequestration projects could assist farmers in improving the way they farm, and opening their eyes to the many benefits of working with, rather than against, nature.
Is there a project Carbon West is currently delivering that you are excited about?
CarbonCare is a project Carbon West is delivering for a Perth-based not for profit which strives to restore degraded landscapes by planting trees. This market research projects aims to better understand both the supply and demand sides of the carbon market. Through market research, case study development and stakeholder engagement, CarbonCare aims to bring the many stakeholders in the future carbon farming industry together to help develop relevant, valuable materials to guide its sustainable development.
What real-world opportunities have you uncovered by taking climate action?
My work in agriculture and research into soil carbon sequestration have helped me conclude that taking climate action is not an impost, it’s a significant boon for the agricultural sector. Putting the carbon eroded from our soils back will achieve many productivity, sustainability and ecological benefits. It is a move towards ‘better agriculture’.
What action would you like to see Australia take on climate?
Stop allowing destructive chemical applications on food-producing soils, and fund national education campaigns around fertiliser use efficiency and soil health.