STOP PRESS: CARBON COALITION WELCOMES PETER FISHER'S HISTORIC FINDINGS ON SOIL C % INCREASE

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"This increase is greater than most carbon modelling suggests," said Dr Peter Fisher, head of the Victorian DPI's soil carbon unit, as he reported that a series of trials in VIC and NSW revealed that 2% increase in soil carbon in 10 years was possible. This figure was disputed by conventional scientists at the first Carbon Farming Conference a little over a year ago when Coalition Council Member Col Seis reported it. The GRDC funded the trials.
At the time the GRDC's relentless Allan Umbers was all over the media selling the message that our degraded soils could not sequester significant amounts of soil carbon.
We disageed with him on the meaning of the word 'significant'.
A 1% increase in soil carbon at 30cms and bulk density 1.4 represents 154 tonnes of CO2e sequestered per ha . Double it for 2%. Now multiply 308 tonnes CO2e by whatever the pric of carbon is: the Government is talking about $25 rising to $40/t.
My calculator tells me that this represents a total of $7,700 at $25 and $12,320 at $40. Per hectare.
Or between $770/ha and $1232/ha per year.

Now some might call that significant.

Dr Peter Fisher enters the Hall of Soil Carbon Heroes. Full report when data is available to us.
Meanwhile, start celebrating. The Walls are coming down.