THE SOLUTION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IS RIGHT UNDER OUR FEET
Desertification–the destruction of soil through over-tilling and the use of synthetic fertilizers–affects about ⅔ of the countries of the world and ⅓ of the earth’s land surface, on which approximately one billion people live.
Not only is healthy soil able to absorb water but it is also able to hold carbon dioxide (CO2). Desertified soil can’t do either of those things. Instead, as the soil dries out and turns to dust, CO2 is released into the atmosphere.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not enough. In order to end global warming, the only answer is to help the world reach “Drawdown”–the point at which levels of greenhouse gases stop climbing and start to steadily decline.
THE STAKES ARE AS HIGH AS THEY COME
If we do not change the way we farm our land and raise livestock, the remaining topsoil on Earth will be gone for good in 60 years. Yes, that’s only 60 more harvests–period. And none of us can survive once it’s gone.
OUR TOMORROW STARTS TODAY
It is estimated that at least 50% of the carbon in the earth’s soils has been released into the atmosphere over the past centuries, which is a major contributor to what scientists have dubbed our planet’s “legacy load” of 1,000 gigatons of atmospheric C02. It’s that growing legacy load that is driving global warming and climate change.
Here’s the thing. Even if we switched to all renewable sources of energy and effectively stopped all greenhouse gas emissions today, that legacy load is here to stay–unless we choose to do something about it.
That’s why The Gulch Environmental Foundation is actively purchasing farmland in America’s heartland, including land used for conventional farming, such as tilling with annual monocrops, and converting the management of these lands to regenerative practices that will sequester carbon and rebuild the soil – because achieving Drawdown and securing our food future requires healthy soil.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
We integrate three different tactics to ensure success that we can all be proud of.
-
REPURPOSE
Using existing farmland, The Gulch Environmental Foundation will plant acres of diverse cover crops without tilling or the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
-
REGENERATE
Instead of killing the microorganisms in the soil, regenerative agriculture will allow the microorganisms in the soil to thrive and protect the health of the soil.
-
DRAWDOWN
Healthy soil is able to pull CO2 from the atmosphere, which restores the soil’s carbon content, increases water retention, and improves nutrient uptake and productivity.